RICHMOND, Va. - Justin Fox, 31, of Stafford, pleaded guilty today to Attempted Production of Child Pornography.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge John Gibney, Jr.
Fox was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 18, 2015. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory-minimum term of 15 years in prison when sentenced on Aug. 27, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Fox admitted that he engaged in online messaging with a 13-year-old boy. During those conversations, he portrayed himself as a young female and asked the boy to create and send child pornography via online messenger. After the boy sent pornographic images, Fox continued to ask for more, calling the boy his slave. A search warrant executed at Fox’s residence and a forensic search of Fox’s electronic devices allowed law enforcement to identify two additional victims who Fox attempted to entice to produce child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Hart is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No 3:15-cr-47.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
