Guilty! John C. Vastis, Buffalo Grove, Illinois (arrested Aug 2014) [child porn w/ boy, 17]

Discussion in 'Tomcats' started by News Readers, Aug 28, 2014.

  1. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    upload_2014-8-29_10-2-12.png

    John C. "Pete" Vastis (Lakemoor, Illinois), 51, teacher at Meridian Middle School, Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, "federal charges of receiving child pornography and persuading a 16-year-old to produce pornographic images of himself"

    United States Attorney's Office, Norther District of Illinois:

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    August 28, 2014

    Lakemoor Man Who Teaches in Buffalo Grove Middle School
    Arrested on Federal Child Sexual Exploitation Charges


    CHICAGO ― A middle school teacher in northwest suburban Buffalo Grove was arrested this morning on federal charges for allegedly receiving child pornography and persuading a minor to produce pornographic images of himself. The defendant, JOHN C. VASTIS, also known as “Pete,” 51, of Lakemoor, which straddles Lake and McHenry counties, was arrested at his home early this morning by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations at the same time they executed a federal search warrant.

    Vastis is a teacher at the Meridian Middle School in Aptakisic-Tripp District 102 in Buffalo Grove. There are no allegations of any sexual exploitation of any students. School district officials are cooperating with the investigation.

    Vastis was charged with two counts of producing child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography. He appeared before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole and was ordered to remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which was scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
    ...



    According to the complaint, on Aug. 15, HSI agents and local police executed a state search warrant at the residence of a 17-year-old youth who was suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography. The youth, identified as “Minor A,” told agents that he began communicating via Skype and text messages with an adult he identified as “Pete” when he was 16-years-old in September 2013. Agents later identified “Pete” as Vastis, the charges allege. Agents then analyzed data from Minor A’s computer and cell phone and recovered more than 3,200 lines of chat messages between Minor A and “Pete.” Excerpts of those chats are detailed in the complaint affidavit.

    The sexual exploitation of a minor charges allege that on Jan. 18 and March 3, 2014, Vastis persuaded, induced, and enticed Minor A to produce pornographic images of himself and send them to Vastis. He was also charged with receiving a video containing child pornography on July 13.

    Each count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, while receiving child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years, and each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

    http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2014/pr0828_01.html


    Tags:
     
    John C. Vastis, Illinois, Lakemoor, Meridian Middle School, Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102, Buffalo Grove
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2014
  2. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Middle school teacher charged with manufacturing child pornography

    A suburban middle school teacher was arrested today on federal child pornography charges alleging he had a teenage boy send him lewd photographs and videos of himself engaging in sexual activities. John C. Vastis, 51, a teacher at Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove, clasped his hands in front of him and answered softly, "Yes, I do," when U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole asked if he understood the charges against him. The alleged victim doesn’t attend the school, and no allegations have been made that Vastis sexually exploited any students, according to federal prosecutors.

    ...

    The youth, identified in the charges only as "Minor A," told agents that he began communicating via Skype and text messages with an adult he identified as "Pete" in September 2013 when he was 16. Agents later identified Pete as Vastis, the charges alleged. Agents analyzed data from the minor's computer and cellphone and recovered more than 3,200 lines of chat messages between Minor A and Pete, according to the charges. The sexual exploitation of a minor charges allege that on Jan. 18 and March 3, Vastis persuaded the boy to produce pornographic images of himself and send them to him.


    In some of the chats detailed in the charges, Pete told the alleged victim he was worried he was a law enforcement officer posing as a child. After the boy allegedly sent Pete a sexually lewd video of himself, Pete allegedly responded in a chat, "HOT!!!", according to the charges. Vastis was also charged with receiving a video containing child pornography on July 13.

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    http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...ed-with-child-pornography-20140828-story.html
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2014
  3. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Lakemoor Man Who Teaches in Buffalo Grove Middle School Arrested on Federal Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

    A middle school teacher in northwest suburban Buffalo Grove was arrested this morning on federal charges for allegedly receiving child pornography and persuading a minor to produce pornographic images of himself. The defendant, JOHN C. VASTIS, also known as “Pete,” 51, of Lakemoor, which straddles Lake and McHenry counties, was arrested at his home early this morning by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations at the same time they executed a federal search warrant. Vastis is a teacher at the Meridian Middle School in Aptakisic-Tripp District 102 in Buffalo Grove. There are no allegations of any ...


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    http://enewspf.com/latest-news/law-...ederal-child-sexual-exploitation-charges.html
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2014
  4. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Suburban Chicago teacher charged with making, receiving child porn

    A 51-year-old suburban Chicago middle school teacher has been arrested on federal charges of receiving child pornography and persuading a 16-year-old to produce pornographic images of himself. Prosecutors say authorities arrested John C. Vastis at his Lakemoor home Thursday morning. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago says Vastis teaches at Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove. They say there's no allegation school students were targeted. Vastis made an initial court appearance in Chicago later Thursday. He stood in flip-flops and a blue T-shirt, telling the judge he understood the charges. He didn't enter a plea. Vastis is charged with producing ...


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    http://www.therepublic.com/view/sto...e8ce957/IL--Child-Pornography-Charges-Teacher


    Suburban Chicago teacher charged with child porn

    CHICAGO (AP) -- A 51-year-old suburban Chicago middle school teacher has been arrested on federal charges of receiving child pornography and persuading a 16-year-old to produce pornographic images of himself. Prosecutors say authorities arrested John C.


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    http://www.foxillinois.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.il/26fd407f-www.foxillinois.com.shtml
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2014
  5. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Suburban teacher faces child pornography charges

    A suburban middle school teacher is in federal custody on child pornography charges and accused of convincing a teenage boy to send him explicit photos and videos. 51-year-old John Vastis has been a teacher at Buffalo Grove’s Meridian Middle School for 19 years. Federal prosecutors say he convinced a 17-year-old boy to take pornographic images of himself and send them to him. They say they’ve recovered more than 3,000 lines of messages between the two from the teenager’s computer and cell phone. Police say the alleged victim does not go to the school- and no allegations have been made involving ...


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    http://cltv.com/2014/08/28/suburban-teacher-faces-child-pornography-charges/
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2014
  6. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Buffalo Grove teacher facing child porn charges placed on leave

    The first day of school at Aptakisic-Tripp Elementary District 102 was darkened by the news that a Meridian Middle School teacher was arrested at his Lakemoor home and charged with creating and receiving child pornography. Lakemoor police arrested John C. Vastis, 51, in the early morning hours of Thursday, charging him with two counts of producing child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Chicago district, Vastis coerced a then 16-year-old boy to take sexually explicit photos of himself and send them to Vastis. According to the release, law ...


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    http://newssun.suntimes.com/2014/08/28/buffalo-grove-teacher-facing-child-porn-charges-placed-leave/
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 29, 2014
  7. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Teacher Arrested in Child Porn Bust on 1st Day of School

    A middle school teacher in a northwest Illinois suburb was arrested Tuesday on the first day of school in a federal child pornography bust. John Vastis, 51 — a teacher at Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove — allegedly coaxed a 16-year-old boy into taking pornographic pictures of himself and sending them to him over the Internet. The boy was not a student of Vastis’s, and prosecutors say there are no allegations that he sexually exploited any students. Wearing an inside out t-shirt and flip flops, a stunned-looking Vastis, of Lakemoor, was warned in U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole’s courtroom ...


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    http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/nati...o-Taking-Pornographic-Pictures-273065871.html


    Teacher Arrested in Child Porn Bust on 1st Day of School

    A middle school teacher in a northwest Illinois suburb was arrested Tuesday on the first day of school in a federal child pornography bust. John Vastis, 51 — a teacher at Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove — allegedly coaxed a 16-year-old boy into ...


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    http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/n...-273065871.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_LABrand
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2014
  8. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Middle school teacher arrested on the first day of school in child pornography bust

    A well-regarded suburban Chicago middle school teacher was arrested Tuesday by federal agents in a child pornography bust – on the first day of school. John Vastis, 51, of Lakemoor, Illinois, faces several charges for allegedly forcing a 16-year-old boy to send him pornographic images and videos, authorities said. Vastis teaches fifth and sixth graders. Department of Homeland Security agents and local police first learned of Vastis, also known as "Paul," after executing a search warrant on the minor's home on August 15, according to a pair of affidavits obtained by AOL News. He was previously featured in the Buffalo ...


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    http://www.aol.com/article/2014/08/...arrested-on-the-first-day-of-school/20954076/
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2014
  9. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Teacher charged with child porn on unpaid suspension

    The middle school teacher accused of producing child pornography is being suspended without pay after his arrest and "investigatory leave" from the district was announced Thursday. John C. Vastis, 51, a teacher at Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove, was arrested Thursday morning at his home in Lakemoor on federal child pornography charges alleging he had a teenage boy send him lewd photographs and videos of himself engaging in sexual activities. The Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 school board met at an emergency meeting the same night during this first full week of school to discuss the matter. Board President Ellyn ...


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    http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...rove-teacher-suspended-tl-20140829-story.html
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2014
  10. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

    Dist. 102 Suspends Teacher Facing Child Pornography Charges

    Aptakisic-Tripp Elementary School Dist. 102 board members Thursday night suspended a Buffalo Grove middle school teacher without pay following his arrest hours earlier on child pornography charges. The school board, which decided in a special closed session meeting to suspend John C. Vastis, stated Dist. 102 is exploring all other options pertaining to further employment with Vastis. The Meridian Middle School teacher was arrested at his Lakemoor home Thursday, Aug. 28. Vastis has taught in Dist. 102 for the past 19 years. He was reportedly arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations as they executed ...


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    http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_8a9e6a4e-2f9a-11e4-81de-0017a43b2370.html
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2014
  11. Misconduct Tracker

    Misconduct Tracker Ultra Major Contributor

    US Department of Homeland Security
    US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE)
    Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
    August 28, 2014
    Chicago, IL
    Illinois middle school teacher arrested on federal child sexual exploitation charges
    CHICAGO — A middle school teacher in northwest suburban Buffalo Grove, Illinois, was arrested early Thursday morning on federal charges for allegedly receiving child pornography and persuading a minor to produce pornographic images of himself.
    John C. Vastis, aka "Pete," 51, of Lakemoor, Illinois, which straddles Lake and McHenry counties, was arrested at his home Aug. 28 by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the same time they executed a federal search warrant.
    Vastis is a teacher at the Meridian Middle School in Aptakisic-Tripp District 102 in Buffalo Grove. There are no allegations of any sexual exploitation of any students. School district officials are cooperating with the investigation.
    Vastis is charged with two counts of producing child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography. He appeared before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole and was ordered to remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
    Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call HSI's toll-free tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or submit information using HSI's online tip form. Callers may remain anonymous.
    According to the complaint, on Aug. 15, HSI agents and local police executed a state search warrant at the residence of a 17-year-old youth who was suspected of possessing and distributing child pornography. The youth, identified as "Minor A," told agents that he began communicating via Skype and text messages with an adult he identified as "Pete" when he was 16 years old in September 2013. Agents later identified "Pete" as Vastis, the charges allege.
    Agents then analyzed data from Minor A's computer and cell phone and recovered more than 3,200 lines of chat messages between Minor A and "Pete." Excerpts of those chats are detailed in the complaint affidavit.
    The sexual exploitation of a minor charges allege that on Jan. 18 and March 3, Vastis persuaded, induced, and enticed Minor A to produce pornographic images of himself and send them to Vastis. He was also charged with receiving a video containing child pornography July 13.
    Each count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. Receiving child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years. Each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
    The arrest and charges were announced by Zachary T. Fardon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago.
    The Lakemoor Police Department, together with state and local HSI task force officers and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, are assisting in the investigation. The Buffalo Grove Police Department is also cooperating with the investigation. The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kness, Northern District of Illinois.
    A complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
    This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.
    HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
    For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
    HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
    You may also visit us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or access this news release on your mobile device.
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
    ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.
    www.ice.gov/news/releases/1408/140828chicago.htm
     
  12. Misconduct Tracker

    Misconduct Tracker Ultra Major Contributor

    Family Taxpayers Foundation
    Teacher Salary Database
    2012
    Name: Vastis, John
    Salary: $84,928
    Position: Junior High/Middle Teacher
    Full/Part Time: Fulltime
    Percent Time Employed: 100%
    Assignment: Language Arts (Grades 1-8 Only)
    Years Teaching: 20
    Degree: Master's
    School Name: Meridian Middle School
    District Name: Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102
    www.familytaxpayers.org
     
  13. Misconduct Tracker

    Misconduct Tracker Ultra Major Contributor

    Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
    Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS)
    Public Search
    John C. Vastis
    License ID # 2011034 (PEL) is active.
    www.isbe.net/elis
     
  14. Misconduct Tracker

    Misconduct Tracker Ultra Major Contributor

    Chicago Tribune
    Teacher facing child porn charges to be mentally evaluated
    September 2, 2014

    By Jason Meisner,Tribune reporter
    Judge wants to know if jailed teacher is at risk of suicide.
    Tests could lead to home confinement.
    A federal judge who expressed concern that a suburban middle school teacher facing child pornography charges might try to kill himself if he were released on home confinement today ordered that he first undergo a mental evaluation.
    John C. Vastis, a longtime teacher at Meridian Middle School in Buffalo Grove, will remain in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center while the evaluation takes place.
    www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/buffalo-grove/chi-jailed-teacher-faces-mental-evaluation-20140902-story.html
     
  15. Misconduct Tracker

    Misconduct Tracker Ultra Major Contributor

    Buffalo Grove / Countryside, a Chicago Sun-Times publication
    Despite background checks, Buffalo Grove area schools limited in what they may find
    By Ronnie Wachter
    Sept. 8, 2014 3:45 p.m.
    The bottom line for officials of northwest suburban public schools: They will never know everything they do not know.
    Each of this area’s public school districts puts candidates for jobs — both teachers and support staff — through an array of state and federal background checks.
    But if Aptakisic-Tripp Elementary District 102 had hired John Vastis today, instead of 19 years ago, that would have made little difference — the teacher currently accused of transmitting child pornography had no criminal history.
    http://buffalogrove.suntimes.com/2014/09/08/background-checks-buffalo-grove-schools

    Buffalo Grove Countryside, a Chicago Sun-Times publication
    Buffalo Grove teacher facing child porn charges placed on leave.
    By Ronnie Wachter
    Aug. 30, 2014, 5:11 p.m.
    The first day of school at Aptakisic-Tripp Elementary District 102 was darkened by the news that a Meridian Middle School teacher was arrested at his Lakemoor home and charged with creating and receiving child pornography.
    Lakemoor police arrested John C. Vastis, 51, in the early morning hours of Thursday, charging him with two counts of producing child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography.
    http://buffalogrove.suntimes.com/20...eacher-facing-child-porn-charges-placed-leave
     
  16. Misconduct Tracker

    Misconduct Tracker Ultra Major Contributor

    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
    NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
    EASTERN DIVISION
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v JOHN C. VASTIS, also known as “Pete”

    Criminal Complaint (29 pages)

    COUNT ONE
    On or about January 18, 2014, at Lakemoor, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, the defendant(s) violated:
    Code Section: Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a)
    Offense Description: did knowingly use, persuade, induce, and entice a minor, namely, Minor A, to engage in sexually explicit conduct, namely, lascivious exhibition of Minor A’s genitals, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, which visual depiction was produced and transmitted using materials that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate and foreign commerce and which visual depiction was transported or transmitted using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce

    COUNT TWO
    On or about March 3, 2014, at Lakemoor, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, the defendant(s) violated:
    Code Section: Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a)
    Offense Description: did knowingly use, persuade, induce, and entice a minor, namely, Minor A, to engage in sexually explicit conduct, namely, lascivious exhibition of Minor A’s genitals, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, which visual depiction was produced and transmitted using materials that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate and foreign commerce and which visual depiction was transported or transmitted using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce

    COUNT THREE
    On or about July 13, 2014, at Lakemoor, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, the defendant(s) violated:
    Code Section: Title 18, United Code, Sections 2252A(a)(2)
    Offense Description: knowingly received, and attempted to receive,material, namely, a video recording entitled “Movie on 7-13-14 at 1.32 AM.mov,” which contained images of child pornography as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2256(8)(A), such images having been mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate and foreign commerce by any means, including by computer

    www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-ndil/legacy/2015/06/11/pr0828_01a.pdf
     
  17. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Thanks for the updates!
     
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