Man charged with sending explicit messages to investigator posing as 15-year-old

A Chicago man has been charged with sending explicit messages to a Cook County sheriff’s police investigator posing as a 15-year-old boy.

Francis Agins, 32, of Chicago, allegedly contacted an SVU investigator April 22 over a messaging application and initiated a sexual conversation, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

Over the next 13 days, Agins allegedly sent explicit messages and videos of himself to the investigator, who told Agins he was 15-years-old, the sheriff’s office said.

He also allegedly asked the investigator posing as a minor to send him explicit pictures, the sheriff’s office said.

The investigator arranged to meet Agins May 5 at a fast-food restaurant in Oak Lawn and placed him in custody when he arrived, the sheriff’s office said.

After searching his phone investigators also found multiple images of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual acts, the sheriff’s office said.

Agins faces multiple felony charges, including grooming, indecent solicitation of a child via the internet, indecent solicitation and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, traveling to meet a minor and possession of child pornography, among others.

He appeared in court Friday, where bond was set at $20,000.