Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Kevin Leslie Gipson, a 58-year-old resident of Oroville, has entered a guilty plea to charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor for sexual purposes, according to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that in July 2024, Gipson engaged in communications with someone he thought was the father of a 10-year-old girl. This individual was, in fact, an undercover officer. Gipson expressed his intentions to engage in sexual acts with the child and planned a meeting at a hotel for this purpose. In preparation, Gipson purchased sex items and a stuffed animal intended for the child. He was apprehended by law enforcement upon approaching the undercover officer with the stuffed animal.
The investigation into the case was carried out by the Sacramento Sheriff's Office, the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Prosecuting the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney.
Gipson's sentencing is set for February 5, 2026, under U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Gipson could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Nonetheless, the final sentence will be determined by the court, taking into consideration statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aiming to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project collaborates with federal, state, and local entities to apprehend and prosecute offenders, as well as to rescue victims. More information can be found at the Department of Justice's website, www.usdoj.gov/psc.
