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Chicago man convicted in Aurora teen sex sting

A 34-year-old Chicago man was convicted Wednesday of traveling to Aurora and paying to have sex with who he thought was a 15-year-old girl in early 2015.

Marek P. Gacierz, of the 3700 block of North Octavia Street, faces between six and 30 years in prison when sentenced Aug. 26 for involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor and grooming — all felonies.

Circuit Judge D.J. Tegeler convicted Gacierz after a bench trial in Kane County this week.

Eight people were arrested in December 2014 and January 2015 in the sex sting coordinated by Homeland Security Investigations and Aurora police, who said they were targeting sexual deviants in the operation.

Four people have pleaded guilty; three cases are pending and Gacierz is the first defendant convicted after his case went to trial.

Prosecutors presented evidence Gacierz traveled from Chicago to an Aurora hotel on Jan. 8, 2015, with the intent to pay to have sex with a teen. When Gacierz arrived, he met a person he thought was the teen's mother, and said that he wanted sexual favors.

Gacierz paid the woman $150 and was immediately arrested, authorities said.

Gacierz also must register for 10 years as a sexual offender after his prison term is over.

He had been free on $12,500 bond, but it was revoked upon conviction and Gacierz was taken to jail.

State's Attorney Joe McMahon said law enforcement is fighting against human trafficking and child sex trafficking.

“These unconscionable crimes take place across the Chicago suburbs much more often than the general public could possibly know,” McMahon said. “Law enforcement nationwide, at all levels, is committed to ending the exploitation of children.”

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