BECKLEY, W.Va. – Gary Wayne Lilly, 40, of Josephine, West Virginia, is headed to federal prison after pleading guilty to a sickening crime. Lilly was sentenced to 46 months behind bars for traveling across state lines with the explicit intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor, United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today.
The details are disturbing. Beginning in late May 2019, Lilly used social media and phone calls to groom what he believed was a 13-year-old girl in Bluefield. The conversations quickly devolved into explicit discussions of sexual acts – oral sex and intercourse – that Lilly planned to commit with the girl. On June 1, 2019, Lilly acted on his depraved intentions, driving from Josephine to Bluefield, Virginia. He even stopped in Princeton to purchase condoms along the way, a chilling detail that underscores the premeditation of his actions.
“The depravity of these types of cases is difficult to fathom,” stated U.S. Attorney Stuart. “But make no mistake, my office protects children. It is my top priority to hold these predators accountable.” This isn’t just about a sentence; it’s about sending a message that targeting children will be met with the full force of the law.
The investigation was a coordinated effort, spearheaded by the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, with crucial assistance from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. Their work brought Lilly to justice and prevented a horrific act from occurring. United States District Judge Frank Volk handed down the sentence, a decision that reflects the severity of Lilly’s offense.
Beyond the prison sentence, Lilly will face a 10-year term of supervised release upon his eventual release. Crucially, he will also be required to register as a sex offender, ensuring continued monitoring and public awareness of his dangerous tendencies. This case was prosecuted under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to combating the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on children. For more information on this vital program, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Court documents related to the case, United States v. Lilly, Case No. 5:19-cr-00161, can be found on PACER. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia on Twitter: @SDWVNews and @USAttyStuart.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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