In a significant case of child enticement, Robert Shawn Anderson, a resident of Paxton, Illinois, has been convicted for the second time. The trial, which lasted over two and a half days, presented evidence that Anderson had arranged to meet a person he believed to be a 15-year-old minor for sexual activity using the dating application MeetMe. The conviction was a result of collaboration between state, local, and national law enforcement agencies, emphasizing their commitment to protecting children from sexual predators. Anderson faces serious penalties, including imprisonment, supervised release, and registration as a sex offender. The sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2023. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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U.S. Attorneys Central District of Illinois
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Ford County Man Convicted for the Second Time of Enticement of a Minor
Robert Shawn Anderson, a resident of Paxton, Illinois, was recently found guilty for the second time of enticement of a minor. The case had been retried after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Anderson should have been able to argue that law enforcement had entrapped him into attempting to engage in sexual activity with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.
During the trial, evidence was presented that Anderson had arranged to meet an individual he believed to be a minor for sexual activity through the dating application MeetMe. The government successfully disproved Anderson’s claim of entrapment, establishing that law enforcement had not coerced or manipulated him into his attempted sexual liaison with a child.
The conviction of Anderson serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of state, local, and national law enforcement agencies in combatting sexual predators who target children. United States Attorney Gregory Harris emphasized the importance of such cooperation in achieving successful outcomes and reiterated the DOJ’s commitment to protecting children from harm.
The Attorney General’s Office and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office played a critical role in holding individuals who seek to harm children accountable for their actions. The conviction of Anderson highlights the dedication of state and federal law enforcement in safeguarding the children of Illinois.
The FBI, which is well aware of the risks children face when interacting with strangers online, commended the proactive measures taken to stop and hold accountable those who exploit children for sexual purposes. The FBI emphasized the need for parents to be vigilant and involved in their children’s online activities to ensure their safety.
Anderson’s arrest took place during the operations of Cupid’s Arrow, a Federal Bureau of Investigation operation conducted in Kankakee County, Illinois, during the Valentine’s Day weekend in 2020. The operation involved the collaboration of various law enforcement agencies, including the Bradley Police Department, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon O’Brien, who is also the Deputy Bureau Chief for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas McMeyer represented the government in the trial before U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm.
Anderson’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 10, 2023, before Judge Mihm at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois. He faces statutory penalties of 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by 5 years to life of supervised release, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Anderson is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The charges against Anderson were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the DOJ to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and to provide support and assistance to victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood and its efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, individuals can visit the project’s website at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.