A man who allegedly used a fake art school photography project to lure women into exposing themselves — then sexually molested them — has been charged in connection with incidents involving two women, while prosecutors say Chicago police are actively investigating claims from six more possible victims.
Gabriel Wilkins, 41, is currently detained by order of Judge Rivanda Doss Beal on charges of criminal sexual abuse and public indecency, court records show. The charges stem from incidents prosecutors say took place in the Boystown neighborhood last summer and on a CTA Brown Line train last month.
Chicago police had issued two community alerts in recent weeks featuring CTA surveillance images of the suspect, but the alerts contained no details about what allegedly occurred on the train.
Those disturbing details were finally revealed in a detention filing by Assistant State’s Attorney Karen Crothers, who described a pattern in which Wilkins allegedly targeted women across the North Side, only to be caught after a woman posted a warning on TikTok in January.
The earliest case that Wilkins is charged with involves a 28-year-old woman who went out to Boystown with a female friend on July 5 last year. They were outside a tavern in the 3300 block of North Halsted Street when Wilkins introduced himself as “David” and spoke in a way that made both women believe he was not a threat, Carothers said.
He allegedly told the women he was an art student who needed photographs of a woman’s breasts for a school project and asked if the 28-year-old would participate. She agreed. The group moved away from the street, supposedly for privacy, and Wilkins allegedly took several photos, then asked the woman’s friend to photograph him standing next to the woman. As he moved toward her, Crothers alleged, Wilkins exposed himself and performed a sex act until he finished on the woman’s abdomen.
Both women ran away to the Red Line to escape. Carothers said the victim texted a friend about the incident immediately but did not report it to police until January 17 of this year, after she saw accounts from other women describing the same ruse on TikTok.
Wilkins is also charged with the CTA case. On April 13, a 21-year-old woman was riding the Brown Line near Diversey when she noticed Wilkins sitting across the aisle, recording her on his phone, Crothers said. He then exposed himself and began performing a sex act before fleeing the train at the Fullerton stop, according to Carothers. That woman reported the incident to the police the same day.
Crothers told the court those two cases represent only part of what investigators have found. She said six other active investigations may involve Wilkins. According to the detention filing, the alleged incidents stretch from the summer of 2025 through January of this year. He is not charged with any of the cases under investigation:
In August 2025, a 31-year-old woman was smoking outside her home in the 2300 block of North California Avenue when Wilkins approached and told her he needed photographs of a woman’s breast for an exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago, Carothers said. He told her he was gay and safe to be around, Crothers said, and the woman agreed to help, on the condition her face would not appear in the images. While taking the photos, Wilkins allegedly reached over and grabbed her breast — something her roommate witnessed. He then told the woman he also needed a photograph of his own private part for the same exhibit and removed his clothing, Carothers said, and he asked the roommate to take the picture, which she did, before he left. The woman reported the incident on January 17 of this year.
On September 7, Wilkins allegedly asked another 31-year-old woman if he could photograph her breasts for a school project. She agreed and went to his apartment, where she removed her shirt as instructed, Carothers said. While photographing her, Wilkins began touching her, exposing himself and placed her hand on his private area, Crothers alleged. The woman reported the incident to police on January 26.
On October 18, a 30-year-old woman was walking alone near the intersection of North and Dearborn when Wilkins approached her, again identifying himself as an Art Institute student in need of a model, said Carothers. She agreed to help but told him she would remain clothed and insisted they stay in a public place. They moved to a nearby alley, where Wilkins pulled down her shirt and photographed her, then exposed himself and performed a sex act, Crothers said. The woman reported the incident the same day.
On November 15, a woman leaving a concert at Metro, 3730 North Clark Street, was approached by Wilkins, who told her he was working on a photography project about the human body and needed to photograph a woman’s breasts, Carothers said. She agreed and allowed him to take pictures, but while doing so, Wilkins reached out and grabbed her chest, then left, Crothers alleged. That woman reported the incident on January 17 of this year.
On December 20, a 28-year-old woman met Wilkins at work. He allegedly told her he was an art student and asked whether she would be interested in posing for a photo shoot. She initially agreed, but later saw similar accounts circulating on social media and reported the interaction to police on January 15, according to Carothers.
The most recent incident in Carothers’ filing occurred on January 18, when a 28-year-old woman was engaged in consensual sex with Wilkins. That woman reported that Wilkins suddenly began striking her in the face, Crothers alleged. The woman tried to stop the sex act, but Wilkins refused, according to Carothers. She reported the assault two days later but indicated at the time that she did not want to pursue charges because she was concerned Wilkins might be required to register as a sex offender, according to Carothers.
Court records show Wilkins has no prior arrests.
