Swansea man arrested in North Dakota, charged with sex crimes against children

A Swansea man wanted on charges of predatory sex crimes was arrested Thursday in Fargo, North Dakota, and is awaiting extradition to St. Clair County, authorities said.

KeyShawn G. Smith, 24, is charged with five Class X felonies, including one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and four counts of possession of child pornography involving a victim younger than 13.

According to a news release from the Swansea Police Department, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force notified the department about “a possible adult suspect” involved in child pornography.

Swansea Detective Alex Wilkens, a task force member, identified Smith as a suspect using digital forensics and collected evidence through search warrants, the release stated.

Officers from the Collinsville and Fairview Heights police departments, as well as the St. Clair County Child Advocacy Center, assisted in the investigation, according to the release.