PEORIA, Ill. – Joseph D. Perkins, a despicable 32-year-old from Pekin, Illinois, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for his monstrous attempt to entice a minor online.
The court heard evidence from Perkins’s jury trial in April 2025, which revealed that he engaged in a disturbing 14-month conversation with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. Throughout this despicable interaction, Perkins repeatedly sought nude photos and attempted to meet the individual for sexual encounters.
Perkins was apprehended by federal law enforcement after arriving at a planned meet-up location in March 2024. Since his arrest, Perkins has been detained under the watchful eye of the U.S. Marshals Service.
In April 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Perkins on charges that led to his conviction later that year. The judge handed down the mandatory minimum sentence for attempted enticement of a minor, which also requires him to register as a sex offender under SORNA.
The Springfield Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa P. Ortiz and Douglas F. McMeyer prosecuted it. The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a national effort to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
RELATED: Pekin Drug Kingpin Dawe Jailed for 12 Years
Related Federal Cases
- Elkville Heroin Kingpin Sentenced to Decade in Prison · Illinois
- Union County Drug Kingpin Rusty Smith Sentenced to Over a Decade in Prison · Illinois
- Cahokia Felon James Moore Jailed For Gun Possession · Illinois
- Cedar Rapids Woman Jailed for $108K Elder Fraud · Illinois
- Morris Man Accused of Attempted Murder of DEA Officers · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News