Two Chicago men charged with promoting juvenile prostitution

Two Chicago men accused of arranging sexual encounters between men and 15-year-old girls are behind bars in DuPage County.

Demarcus Feltus and Laburron Jackson, both 29, are each charged with promoting juvenile prostitution within 1,000 feet of a school and are being held on $500,000 bond.

The arrests were the result of the Aurora Police Special Operations Group and FBI working together on a joint sting operation called "Operation Cross Country," authorities said.

Prosecutors said an undercover Aurora officer answered an ad offering "2 sexy females" on June 19 and arranged to meet the girls at a hotel the following afternoon in Aurora near Robert Morris College.

Prosecutors said Feltus and Jackson drove two girls to the hotel about 12:30 p.m. and instructed them to have sex for money and then split the money with them.

After speaking to the girls in the hotel room, the undercover officer determined they were both 15. The officer then gave a signal to other agents to approach the men as they waited in the vehicle. Jackson was arrested immediately and Feltus was caught after a brief foot chase.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin called the accusations nauseating.

Aurora police Chief Gregg Thomas said he hopes the charges against the two men will serve as a warning to those involved with juvenile prostitution.

"The exploitation of these young victims is a crime that shocks the very core of the community and something that society will not tolerate," Thomas said.

If convicted, each man faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Jackson's next court appearance is scheduled for July 3. Feltus's next court appearance is scheduled for July 8. Both cases will be heard by Judge Daniel Guerin in Courtroom 4010.