Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is speaking out after authorities say a Chicago-area man spent months talking online with what he thought was a vulnerable teenage girl.
According to authorities, the suspect, 34-year-old Joseph Hoggard, exchanged explicit messages and sought to set up meetings before discovering he was speaking with an undercover investigator from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
Undercover Operation Led to Arrest
According to investigators from the Sheriff’s Special Victims Division, the case began as part of a proactive undercover operation targeting cyber predators.
Sgt. Judith Washington posed as a 13-year-old girl on social media, and she claims Hoggard immediately started sexually explicit conversations.
“He just started right (away), went into it, that he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the minor,” Washington stated.
Authorities claim the talks began in November 2025 and lasted for weeks, with the suspect reportedly attempting to schedule meetings but never showing up in person.
“The fact that he would meet up and try to engage in sexual activities with a live minor is disturbing in itself,” Washington commented.
Hoggard, a registered sex offender, was arrested earlier this month at his residence.
Grooming Still a Crime
According to officials, the suspect is suspected of not only attempting to meet a kid but also of grooming behavior, which is illegal even in the absence of a physical interaction.
“Despite not meeting up, he still groomed the minor,” Washington added.
Inside the Cyber Trafficking Unit
The arrest is part of a larger effort by the Cook County Sheriff’s cyber trafficking section, a specialist team tasked with locating internet predators.
According to Lt. Jim Draz, the squad was formed particularly to address internet-related crimes against children.
“We needed a unit to solely focus on basically catching online predators… that’s kind of how the unit was created,” Draz stated. “You are attempting to position yourself between the predator and the children. If the predator is communicating with you, they can’t be talking to a child.”
Warning for Parents and Kids
Authorities are advising families to remain vigilant and involved when it comes to online activity.
“You have to keep an open dialog with your children,” Draz stated. “If something doesn’t seem right, it’s probably not right… not everybody on these social media apps is your friend.”
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