Alabama Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Sex Trafficking and Child Pornography Charges
ROCKFORD / Thursday, September 17, 2026 — An Alabama man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rockford to sex trafficking and child pornography charges.
JAMES PRICE, 39, of Bay Minette, Ala., admitted in plea declaration on Wednesday that he traveled to Illinois to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. Price also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, and producing, transporting, and receiving child pornography.
Price pleaded guilty in the middle of his trial in federal court in Rockford. A jury was selected on Monday, and testimony began on Tuesday. Price pleaded guilty after multiple government witnesses had testified, including the minor victim, who courageously described her ordeals for the jury.
The convictions are punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston set sentencing for Jan. 25, 2027.
The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office. The South Beloit, Ill. Police Department, Roscoe, Ill. Police Department, and Rockton, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance during the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Taylor N. Burnett.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois
