A former Navy psychologist has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to sexually coerce a minor, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Norfolk, Va. – Michael Andrew Widroff, 34, a U.S. Navy officer serving as a psychologist in Norfolk, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and Special Agent in Charge Mack Hickman of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office.
According to court documents, on May 25, 2023, Widroff posted a picture of a male dressed in a U.S. Navy Service Dress White uniform on the Whisper social media platform, accompanied by text that indicated he wished to engage in fraternization or other violations of military law. In the military context, fraternization is improper relationships between officers and enlisted personnel.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) responded to the post in an undercover capacity as a 14-year-old girl. Believing he was communicating with a child, Widroff moved the conversation to Snapchat and escalated the communications from casual to sexual. Widroff described to the child, in graphic detail, numerous sexual acts in which he wanted them to engage.
Widroff requested “sexy” and nude photos of the child as well as sexually explicit recordings. He then attempted to arrange for them to meet, repeatedly asking her to share the location of her house. Expressing anxiety about being seen, Widroff planned to enter her home through the back door.
On June 7, 2023, when Widroff arrived in the neighborhood where he intended to meet a 14-year-old to engage in sex, law enforcement performed a traffic stop on Widroff. As was being pulled over, Widroff deleted Snapchat from his phone.
Widroff pled guilty on Oct. 12, 2023. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-78.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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