The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Illinois Trafficking Enforcement Group (ITEG) arrested two individuals during a two-day human trafficking demand suppression operation in Springfield on June 24–25, 2026. The operation focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts. As a result of the operation, two individuals were arrested, and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges:
– Raymond Stengel Sr. (74) of Springfield, IL – Traveling to Meet a Minor (Class 3 Felony).
– Lucas Barria (24) of Springfield, IL – Traveling to Meet a Minor, Indecent Solicitation of a Minor (Class 3 Felonies), Solicitation to Meet a Child (Class 4 Felony).
This operation was part of a multiagency approach by ISP aimed at stopping human trafficking in Illinois. ITEG, the Central Illinois Enforcement Group (CIEG), ISP SWAT, ISP Investigative Support Unit, North Central Narcotics Task Force (NCNTF), ISP Division of Patrol Troop 3, ISP DCI Zone 4, ISP Central Special Operations Group, and the Decatur Police Department partnered for the operation.
Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts, labor, or services against their will. ISP continues its multifaceted approach toward protecting those most vulnerable with its ongoing statewide human trafficking enforcement operations. The signs of human trafficking can be subtle; to learn more, please visit Recognizing the Signs | National Human Trafficking Hotline.
If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email ISP.CrimeTips@illinois.gov.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐰.
***Courtesy of the Illinois State Police Troop 6 Facebook Page***
