Elicit means to draw out, extract, or to bring forth: “The job of journalists is to elicit answers from the person they are questioning.”
Illicit, on the other hand, means not permitted, unlawful, illegal, banned: “Sale of drugs is an illicit activity.”
Licit is the antonym of illicit and means permitted by law; legal: “All involved in illicit activities always claim they are doing licit work.”

The licit activities of the sheriff are often seen by criminals as attempts to elicit information about illicit activities.