NORFOLK, Va. – A Tolleson, Arizona, man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
Ethan Roberts, 28, was convicted of repeatedly asking a 14-year-old girl from Norfolk to create and send sexually explicit images of herself to him. Roberts met the girl online in January 2022 and engaged in a seven-month period of sexually explicit conversations with her.
After traveling to Norfolk in August 2022, Roberts picked up the girl and brought her to his apartment in Arizona. The girl’s friend noticed her online and informed law enforcement, who were able to locate and rescue her from Roberts’ apartment.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan, and Norfolk Police Chief Michael C. Maslow announced the sentencing after it was handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The case is part of a larger effort to raise awareness and educate the community about online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. The Eastern District of Virginia has launched ‘UnMasked,’ a community-based educational outreach and prevention program, in partnership with local, state, and federal stakeholders.
Those who wish to report an incident involving online sexual exploitation can call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event, contact the EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at USAVAE-UnMasked@usdoj.gov
Related Federal Cases
- Gregory James Flohr, Child Pornography Offenses, Texas 2026 · California
- Lillian Welsh, Physically Unfit Youth Indictment, Virginia 1919 · Washington
- Kaung Myat Kyaw Charged with Child Sexual Exploitation, Pittsburgh PA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Paul Charles Clement, Sex Offender Registration Violation, West Virginia 2025 · Arizona
- Ray Merrill Stapleton, Sex Offender Registration Violation, VA, 2024 · Arizona
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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