handcuffs

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - Authorities arrested 15 men as part of an FBI operation looking into alleged attempted enticement and sexual exploitation of children. 

Prosecutors said each of the suspects used social media applications to speak with covert FBI employees posing as 14 and 15-year-old minors. They're accused of making arrangements to meet the minor in order to engage in sexual activity. 

In some cases, prosecutors said the suspects tried to coerce the minors into sending them sexually explicit images. 

Authorities arrested each suspect over the weekend of Feb. 15-16 as they approached the designated address in Bradley. FBI special agents, the Bradley Police Department, the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office and Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group were involved in the arrests. 

The attempted enticement of a minor suspects include a 27-year-old man from Buckley, a 45-year-old man from Kankakee, a 23-year-old from Bourbonnais, a 25-year-old from Kankakee, a 26-year-old from Bradley, a 50-year-old from Paxton, 29-year-old from Park Forest and 37-year-old Bourbonnais. 

Defendants charged with attempted enticement of a minor and attempted sexual exploitation of a child include a 48-year-old from Kankakee, a 21-year-old from Kankakee, a 28-year-old from Saint Anne, a 30-year-old from Kankakee, a 27-year-old from Danville, a 40-year-old from Manteno and a 28-year-old from Kankakee. 

If a suspect is convicted, attempted enticement of a minor carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. Defendants convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a child face 15 to 30 years in prison. 

Prosecutors said complaints against these suspects were unsealed Tuesday as each suspect made initial court appearances in federal court in Urbana.