Belleville, Illinois – In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Joseph L. Hughes, a/k/a ‘Joe King,’ 29, of St. Louis, Missouri, has been sentenced to 149 months in prison for enticing a 14-year-old girl to engage in sex and traveling across state lines to have sex with her.
According to court filings, Hughes and the minor victim used Facebook Messenger to communicate. Hughes later traveled from St. Louis to the girl’s home in Belleville, Illinois, to have sex with her on November 24, 2018, and December 8, 2018.
As part of his guilty plea, Hughes admitted that the victim told him her age right away, and that he knew what he did was against the law.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Belleville Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, and the St. Louis County Police Department, with assistance from the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott prosecuted the case.
Hughes’s sentence includes a five-year term of supervised release and a $300 fine.
The egregious nature of this crime is a stark reminder of the importance of online safety and the need for vigilance in protecting our children from predators.
The victims of child exploitation deserve our support and understanding as they navigate the complexities of their experiences.
Related Federal Cases
- Joseph L. Hughes, Child Enticement, IL 2024 · Illinois
- Logan Viquesney, Interstate Minor Sex Trafficking, VA 2024 · Washington
- Ricardo D. Minor, Child Exploitation and Witness Tampering, IL 2018 · Illinois
- Jefferson County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Coercing Minor with Vapes, Booze · Illinois
- Victor Zelaya-Funez, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Louisiana 2018 · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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