A Memphis man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for traveling across state lines to engage in sexual activity with a minor and for cyberstalking after the victim turned 18.
Court documents show that Andreus Shannon, 44, posed as a basketball coach for a homeschool association. He gained the trust of both the parents and a minor female player, eventually being allowed to transport her to practices and games in Mississippi and Tennessee. Over several years, Shannon sexually exploited the minor at various locations including his home in Memphis, gyms across both states, and a rental property in Tennessee. When the victim reached adulthood and attempted to end their relationship, Shannon began cyberstalking her and threatened to release explicit images unless she continued seeing him. These actions lasted two years.
Chief District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Shannon to 144 months in prison for traveling with intent for illicit sexual activity with a minor, alongside a concurrent five-year sentence for cyberstalking. After serving his sentence, he will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works or studies.
“The defendant’s crimes represented a truly reprehensible betrayal of trust, and he is now in prison where he belongs,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The work by AUSA Parker King, the FBI, the Memphis Police Department, and especially the Olive Branch Police Department was truly outstanding and deserving of our thanks.”
"Andreus Shannon, callously undermined the trust of unsuspecting parents, preying on a minor for years,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “Shannon’s deliberate actions in targeting the innocence of our youth will not be tolerated. The FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office, Mississippi Attorney General's Office, Olive Branch Police Department, Oxford Police Department and the Memphis Police Department will continue to aggressively investigate and bring predatory individuals like Shannon to justice."
The investigation was led by the FBI with significant contributions from both the Memphis Police Department and Olive Branch Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted this case under Project Safe Childhood—a national program aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online by coordinating resources among federal prosecutors' offices as well as state agencies (https://www.projectsafechildhood.gov).
