Related Federal Cases
- Anthony Moore, Receiving Child Pornography, Missouri 2024 · Kansas
- Justin X. Carroll, Child Pornography, Missouri 2015 · Iowa
- James Loyd Wainright, Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Missouri 2017 · Iowa
- Harrison Elliot Combs, Child Pornography Receipt and Distribution, Missouri 2018 · Kansas
- Dennis Adlai Hernandez, Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Missouri 2022 · Arkansas
Man Admits Trying to Meet Teen for Sex
ST. LOUIS, Missouri – In a shocking case of attempted child exploitation, a 39-year-old man from Jefferson County, Missouri, has admitted to trying to meet a 16-year-old girl for sex.
Anthony Justin Snelson, of Arnold, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. According to court documents, Snelson engaged in an inappropriate conversation with the teen via TikTok, which was later discovered by the victim’s mother.
The mother, who took over the conversation, began impersonating the victim and reported the incident to the St. Louis County Police Department on August 12, 2024. Snelson was arrested when he arrived at the meeting location.
During an interview with police, Snelson admitted that he met with the teen to ‘maybe mess around.’ The charge of attempted receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum of 20 years.
Snelson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2024. The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The program aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Anthony Justin Snelson, 39, of Arnold, Missouri
Exact Criminal Charges: One count of attempted receipt of child pornography
City and State: St. Louis, Missouri
Exact Date: August 12, 2024 (arrest date)
Sentence or Outcome: Scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2024, with a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum of 20 years.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes