A man was charged after Chicago police said he posed as a basketball coach and groomed a 15-year-old boy
Police, along with the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, arrested and charged Andre Jackson, 56, in this case on Monday with one count of indecent solicitation-aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of grooming.
Jackson appeared in court on Wednesday. Court documents detailed how Jackson met the then 13-year-old victim in 2024 at a basketball clinic at the boy's elementary school, where Jackson introduced himself as "Coach Dre."
Last fall, the two met again at the Kroc Center in West Pullman, where investigators say Jackson suggested the boy play for Jackson's AAU basketball team. There was never evidence he had a team he was coaching.
The two exchanged phone numbers and what followed was months of increasingly disturbing text and phone conversations, where Jackson is alleged to have solicited nude photos from the teen and suggested the two be nude together.
In one text… police say Jackson wrote, "I am going to massage you naked ..." to the teen.
According to court documents, Jackson allegedly offered to buy the teen expensive gifts.
It wasn't until August when the boy's mom learned about the relationship, saw the text exchanges and called police — leading to Jackson's arrest.
Investigators learned of jackson's criminal record, which included a battery in 2017 and sexual abuse of an 18-year-old woman in 2000.
Police also say on more than one occasion, Jackson promised a group of kids from Fernwood Park that they would play in basketball tournaments and he would ride the bus or train with the group of boys to the tournaments, only to be turned away since he never registered them to participate.
The Salvation Army told CBS News Chicago in a statement that they are "aware of an incident involving a former employee of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. The Salvation Army takes this matter very seriously, and is working with the authorities."
Jackson was ordered detained as the case proceeds. He is due to appear back on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Chicago police say anyone who suspects they or someone they know is a victim is asked to reach out to their Special Investigations Unit at (312) 492-3810.
