A Virginia man pled guilty Friday to coercion and enticement of minors using social media.
According to court documents, in September 2022, law enforcement interviewed Witness 1 (W-1), who admitted that he used Telegram to purchase child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from a Telegram user later identified as Shannon Ashley Robbins, 50 of Virginia Beach.
W-1 and Robbins negotiated the price of multiple sales of CSAM and used Cash App for W-1 to pay Robbins.
Robbins asked W-1 questions to assess the age range of victims W-1 preferred. After W-1 sent $100 to Robbins using Cash App, Robbins sent several images and videos of CSAM via Telegram. The approximate age range of the depicted victims is 12 to 14 years of age. W-1 identified one boy of whom he requested more CSAM.
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Robbins told W-1 that his collection of this boy was “290 pieces” and told W-1 to make Robbins an offer. Robbins sold the lot for $100 and sent to W-1 14 images and six videos depicting a victim of 12 to 13 years of age. Robbins and W-1 conducted at least two other transactions for CSAM.
On Sept. 8, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTipline report indicating a user had saved, shared, or uploaded four files of suspected CSAM, which was confirmed by NCMEC. On Sept. 19, 2022, NCMEC received another CyberTipline report relating to the same IP address of the Sept. 8, 2022, report. In this second report, 17 files of suspected CSAM were identified. The IP address was assigned with Robbins’ residence in Virginia Beach.
Robbins created multiple accounts on social media both to evade detection and to deceive multiple child victims by assuming false identities. Beginning at least as early as 2021 and continuing until the date of his arrest on Oct. 25, 2023, Robbins engaged with numerous juvenile victims to entice or coerce them into producing CSAM. As Robbins approached minor victims on social media, he presented himself as a minor, sometimes female, other times male.
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At times Robbins sent CSAM to the minor victims, either to create the impression that Robbins and the victims were mutual participants or to demonstrate the poses Robbins preferred. Robbins used Cash App to pay a 12-year-old victim to produce and send CSAM to Robbins.
The material Robbins sold to W-1 included 135 sexually explicit images and 153 sexually explicit videos depicting one of the victims Robbins engaged through social media and enticed or coerced to produce CSAM.
Robbins was acquainted with two of his victims, each of whom lived near him. Between July 11 and Oct. 24, 2023, Robbins exchanged approximately 1,775 text messages with one of these victims. Between May 21 and Oct. 24, 2023, Robbins exchanged approximately 3,958 text messages with the other victim. He spent time with them when no other adult was present and frequently allowed them to spend time in his garage, where the victims played darts and socialized. Robbins took the victims on outings to Bass Pro Shops and to Busch Gardens with no other adult present. Robbins previously coached a local travel baseball team.
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Law enforcement seized Robbins’ cellphone on Oct. 25, 2023. On the phone, Robbins possessed a large volume of CSAM image and video files.
Robbins is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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