Ricky Joe Cornish Jr., Attempting to Entice a Minor, Kentucky 2020

FRANKFORT, KY – Ricky Joe Cornish Jr., 33, of Frankfort, Kentucky, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor online. U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove handed down the sentence Tuesday, following Cornish’s guilty plea. The case highlights the chilling reality of online predators and the dedication of law enforcement to protect vulnerable children.

The investigation began on May 16, 2019, when Cornish initiated contact with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old female in Franklin County, Kentucky, using the MeetMe/Skout messenger application. Unbeknownst to Cornish, the profile belonged to an undercover investigator with the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Branch. The investigator skillfully played along, revealing they were also communicating with a purported 17-year-old female, and Cornish brazenly expressed his desire for sexual contact with the latter.

Driven by his depraved intentions, Cornish arranged a meeting at a hotel in Franklin County. Law enforcement officers were waiting. Upon his arrival, Cornish was immediately arrested, effectively halting his predatory scheme. A forensic examination of his cellular phone confirmed the disturbing conversations with the undercover investigator, and revealed a second similar exchange with another individual believed to be a minor female. The depth of his predatory behavior is deeply troubling.

Cornish pleaded guilty in July 2020, admitting to his unlawful actions. Federal sentencing guidelines mandate that he serve at least 85 percent of his 120-month sentence. Upon his release, he will face 20 years of supervised release under the watchful eye of the U.S. Probation Office – a long road to potential rehabilitation, but a necessary one to ensure public safety.

The successful prosecution was a joint effort led by Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Ralph Gerdes, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Louisville Field Office; and Daniel Cameron, Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Marye and Tashena Fannin skillfully presented the case in court.

This case is part of “Project Safe Childhood,” a national initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, while simultaneously working to rescue victims. Anyone with information regarding suspected child exploitation is urged to contact the authorities or visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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