Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
John Robert Remlinger, a 43-year-old resident of Vallejo, has pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that in the summer of 2021, Remlinger initiated contact with a minor, referred to as Minor Victim 1, via an internet application called Wink. This app is marketed as a platform for minors to connect with peers. Although Remlinger falsely claimed to be 17 years old when he was actually 39, Minor Victim 1 accurately disclosed her age as 13. Their conversation later shifted from Wink to Snapchat.
On Snapchat, Remlinger persistently requested sexually explicit content from Minor Victim 1 and instructed her on posing for such material. She complied by sending videos and images. Additionally, Remlinger recorded a live video call where the victim posed suggestively.
The investigation into this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg.
Remlinger's sentencing is set for September 12, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with the possibility of up to 30 years, alongside lifetime supervised release, restitution obligations, and a fine of $250,000. The final sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project unites federal, state, and local resources to pursue offenders and assist victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab for internet-safety education.
