A call for a disturbance at a suburban Walmart last week ended with a man arrested and accused of meeting up with an underage girl for sex.
Police said a group of private citizens was behind the undercover operation in New Lenox but warned others against taking matters into your own hands.
The investigation started shortly after 7 p.m. when police got a call for a fight at a Walmart on Lincoln Highway last Friday.
Police said a group confronted a man claiming he tried to meet an underage girl. The group included a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman who told police they posed as a 15-year-old girl and wanted to document and record the encounter for their YouTube Channel.
Authorities said 44-year-old Bryan Marinucci is now behind bars and charged with felony counts of traveling to meet with a child and grooming. Police said Marinucci admitted to sending explicit messages and arranging to meet for sex.
According to court documents, Marinucci took an Uber from his Chicago home to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl. Prosecutors said the profile was fake, created by an online group posing as a teenager to lure and catch alleged child predators.
New Lenox police credit the group and thanked them for bringing this to their attention and for cooperating with the investigation, but the department in a statement told NBC Chicago, “However, we do not recommend that private citizens attempt undercover investigations and operations. These types of actions create serious safety issues for the individuals involved and the public. Criminal investigations are most successful when conducted by law enforcement or other trained professionals.”
NBC Chicago reached out to the online group for a comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Police are using this incident to remind parents about online safety, urging parents to talk with their kids, be aware of the apps they’re using and monitor their online activities.
Marinucci was denied pre-trial release and is due back in court on August 17 for a preliminary hearing.
