⏱ 2 min read
Steven Wayne Erickson, a 48-year-old member of the Pulaski Town Council in Virginia, was arrested by the FBI for child exploitation crimes. The arrest occurred after the FBI received a cyber tip regarding potential child sexual exploitation on the messaging app Kik. Erickson, who has previously served as a sheriff’s deputy and corrections officer, was taken into custody on charges of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court records, Erickson used two Kik accounts to solicit and share CSAM with other users. In one instance, he received almost 100 photos of elementary-aged minors from a user named ‘Cravt’, which he then encouraged to be transformed using AI. Erickson also sent videos of himself masturbating to the CSAM and asked for more material.
In another instance, Erickson received a video from a user named ‘Tribbin’ that depicted a teenaged minor unknowingly exposing herself to use the bathroom. He sent back a video showing himself masturbating to the video and asked for more material. Erickson also chatted with another user who claimed to have sexually assaulted their 9-year-old daughter, and he sent a photo of his genitals in exchange for a sexually explicit photo of the daughter.
Erickson’s arrest is a shocking example of the darker side of power and corruption. As a member of the Pulaski Town Council, he was sworn to protect and serve his community, but instead, he was exploiting and harming its most vulnerable members. The FBI’s investigation and arrest of Erickson serve as a reminder that no one is above the law, and that those who commit such heinous crimes will be held accountable.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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