An Irvine, Kentucky man, Steven Randall Neal, 37, has been sentenced to 292 months in federal prison for attempting to persuade a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity online. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves.
Court documents show that in 2021, Neal began contacting the minor victim through Facebook Messenger. He repeatedly communicated with the victim online and tried to obtain sexually explicit images from the minor. Neal also admitted to engaging in hands-on sexual abuse of the victim on two occasions and used Facebook Messenger to arrange further contact.
Under federal law, Neal is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. After serving his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life.
The sentencing was announced jointly by Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Sheriff Mike Coyle of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was carried out by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton prosecuted the case.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. According to information from Project Safe Childhood (www.projectsafechildhood.gov), this program brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and rescue victims.
"
