HARRISONBURG, Va. – In a shocking turn of justice, Willy Alexander Korthals, 30, from Beaufort, North Carolina, was handed a 60-month federal prison sentence after being caught in an online scheme to exploit children.
Korthals, who pleaded guilty to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor earlier this year, engaged in despicable behavior by sending explicit photographs to an undercover FBI employee he believed to be a nine-year-old girl.
The court heard that Korthals was active on the Kik chat platform, where he responded to a post seeking sexual contact with a child. Unbeknownst to him, this thread was posted by an undercover FBI agent, and Korthals sent nude photographs in response. His sinister activities continued for over a year, involving graphic conversations and requests for live videos of the child.
In a chilling escalation, Korthals even sought laboratory test results of his sexually transmitted disease status to ensure ‘safe’ sex with the child. He described detailed acts of sexual abuse he intended to commit, and only cancelled a planned meeting with the undercover agents hours before it was supposed to take place.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division announced the sentence, which is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of cybercrimes against minors and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring predators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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