A former aide to Illinois State Rep. Tim Ozinga has been charged with sending deepfake pornographic images to Democratic legislators who opposed a casino development project.

Timothy Pawula, previously Ozinga's chief of staff, faces charges of transmitting obscene messages, harassment, and obscenity. The charges stem from complaints filed by State Sen. Michael Hastings, State Rep. Bob Rita, and former Tinley Park mayoral candidate Ahleah Salefski.

All victims opposed plans to convert an abandoned mental health center in Tinley Park into a casino and racetrack, a project supported by Ozinga. The development failed in 2023 after Hastings led efforts to sell the land to the Park District for $1 for use as a sports center.

Court documents reveal the explicit images were distributed in late 2022 using TextFree, an app chosen to conceal the sender's identity. Rita, who serves as vice-chairman of the Illinois House gaming committee, received fake pornographic images depicting him with another elected official. Hastings reportedly received similar explicit content involving himself and Governor JB Pritzker, while Salefski reported harassing texts and disturbing images.

Rita stated to Patch.com, "This is disturbing, that someone would actually create and distribute among anyone. Nobody should endure what's going on here." Salefski, emphasizing her role as a community-involved mother, described the incident as "gross and disgusting."

Neither former Representative Ozinga nor Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz are implicated in the alleged harassment.

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