Justin Richard Testani Gets 60 Years for Sextorting Minors

Orange City man Justin Richard Testani, 30, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for a relentless campaign of child sexual exploitation that preyed on dozens of vulnerable girls across the United States. U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza handed down the sentence in Orlando, Florida, following Testani’s February 6, 2020 guilty plea. The case exposes the terrifying reach of digital predators hiding behind fake identities.

From December 2017 to January 2019, Testani weaponized Instagram and Snapchat to target girls between the ages of 10 and 13. Posing as a teenage model for a well-known teen lingerie brand, he lured victims into sending sexually revealing photos. Once he had the images, the manipulation turned vicious—Testani issued threats to release the photos, humiliate the children, and even kidnap, rape, or kill them and their families. These threats were used to force victims into producing more explicit material.

But Testani didn’t stop at blackmail. He demanded passwords to the girls’ social media accounts, hijacked them, and used the hijacked profiles to groom and exploit their friends. The FBI investigation revealed he reached out to hundreds of minors during his two-year spree, turning victims’ personal platforms into hunting grounds for more children. His calculated deception turned digital innocence into a pipeline of trauma.

Michael McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division, called the case a wake-up call: “This case is a prime example of how a child can be victimized even in the safety of their own home.” He urged parents to have hard conversations about online safety and emphasized that children are never at fault when predators like Testani strike. The FBI, alongside local agencies, remains focused on dismantling these networks of abuse.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, and the Trussville (Alabama) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang prosecuted the case, securing one of the harshest sentences in recent Florida cyber exploitation history. The 60-year term ensures Testani will spend the bulk of his life behind bars.

This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation. Since its launch in 2006, the program has empowered federal, state, and local agencies to track down predators, rescue victims, and deliver justice. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.