NORFOLK, VA – Nico Mariano Villegas, 32, of Williamsburg, Virginia, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being convicted of attempting to exploit a child. Villegas received the 10-year sentence today for attempted online coercion and enticement of a minor – a grim reminder of the predators lurking in the digital shadows.
The case unfolded during a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) undercover operation targeting child exploitation and human trafficking. An HSI Task Force Officer, posing as a female interested in sexual activity and “cash” on an escort website, was contacted by Villegas via text on May 25, 2023. Villegas, believing he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, brazenly arranged a meeting in Norfolk, offering $150 for oral sex. He exchanged photographs, including multiple images of himself, sealing his fate.
The operation took a dangerous turn when law enforcement moved to apprehend Villegas. As officers attempted a traffic stop – lights flashing, vehicles strategically blocking his path – Villegas refused to comply. Instead, he deliberately accelerated his vehicle, striking the police cars before abandoning it and attempting to flee on foot. It took an HSI Task Force Officer from the Virginia State Police to track Villegas down, finding him hiding behind a retail store.
But the physical assault on law enforcement wasn’t the extent of Villegas’ depravity. Investigators discovered copies of the disturbing conversations on his phone, along with evidence of child sexual abuse material. The digital footprint confirmed the predator’s intent and broadened the scope of his crimes. This wasn’t just a failed meet-up; it was a meticulously planned attempt to harm a child.
The sentencing was announced jointly by Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C.; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent; and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Norfolk Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi prosecuted the case, ensuring Villegas faced the full weight of the law.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The Department of Justice, through Project Safe Childhood, coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute these offenders, and, crucially, to rescue victims. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood can visit www.justice.gov/psc. Court documents related to Case No. 2:23-cr-120 are available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office and PACER websites.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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