Cook County State’s Attorney Secures Conviction for Man Charged in Acquaintance Rape Case

Public Relations Executive Also Facing Sex Assault Charges in Another Attack

A Chicago man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman after meeting the victim on a dating website and luring her to a Chicago hotel where the attack took place, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Ignacio Carillo, 40, who works in Chicago as a public relations executive, was convicted recently by a Cook County jury of one count of Criminal Sexual Assault.  The attack occurred in 2009 after Carillo met the 38-year-old victim for the first time at a River West restaurant and bar after the two had arranged a meeting on the internet.

While the victim was initially reluctant to pursue charges against Carillo, she came forward and assisted the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of this case after learning that Carillo had sexually assaulted another woman in 2011.  In the 2011 case, Carillo is also charged with Criminal Sexual Assault in an attack on another woman whom he is alleged to have assaulted under nearly identical circumstances.

The 2011 case against Carillo is pending, however, using a legal technique that allows prosecutors to introduce evidence at trial to demonstrate proof of other crimes, both of the victims of the attacks were permitted to testify at Carillo’s recent trial in the 2009 case.

State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez commended the work of the Assistant State’s Attorneys in her Sex Crimes Unit for their specialized work as well as the courage of victims to participate in the prosecution.

“It can be extremely difficult for the victim of a sexual assault to have the courage to come forward and re-live that horrific experience and actually face her attacker in court, but the testimony of our victims is extremely important in securing a conviction,” Alvarez said.  “I am extremely proud of and grateful for the trust that our victims’ place in our Assistant State’s Attorneys who continue to do outstanding work in the prosecution of acquaintance rape and sexual assault crimes.”

According to prosecutors, the victim agreed to meet Carillo at the restaurant in October of 2009 but shortly after consuming a drink she began to feel very strange and confused and she texted her sister to let her know that she wasn’t feeling well.

The victim and the defendant, along with the defendant’s friend, then left the restaurant and  took a cab to a different bar, where the victim continued to feel strange and struggled with being able to sit on a bar stool.  At that time, the victim told authorities that Carillo made a joke about putting a “roofie,” or date rape drug in her drink.  The victim testified in court proceedings that the next thing she recalled was being in a cab with the defendant being driven to a hotel.  Prior to arriving at the hotel the victim managed to text her sister asking for help and providing the location of the hotel.

Once at the hotel, the victim testified that she attempted to catch a cab to go home but the defendant grabbed her by the arm and took her back inside.  Inside the hotel room, the defendant threw the victim’s phone away from her and pushed her down on the bed before sexually assaulting her.

According to prosecutors, the victim’s sister arrived at the hotel and located her sister who was crying and disheveled and they immediately left the hotel.  The victim later went to the hospital where a sexual assault kit was taken and she reported the rape to authorities.

Carillo faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing in the 2009 assault.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Tracy Senica and Tom Prisco as well as the Chicago Police Department for their work on this case.