A Louisville man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating federal child exploitation laws, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.
Robert L. Tomlinson, 56, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by a 15-year term of Supervised Release by United States District Judge David J. Hale. There is no parole in the federal system. Tomlinson remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Tomlinson previously admitted to online communications with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl for the purpose of meeting her to engage in sexual conduct. According to the Plea Agreement and other Court records, law enforcement officials became aware of Tomlinson’s criminal conduct through an online undercover operation.
That operation was conducted by an investigator with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations on March 14, 2017. The investigator responded to a Craigslist ad posted in the Louisville personals section, posing as a 15-year-old female named “15YO” living in Louisville, Kentucky.
The person who posted the ad (later determined to be Tomlinson), responded back the same date. When asked by Tomlinson for the undercover persona’s age, the investigator responded “15.” The conversations lasted several weeks over text message and email.
On April 5, 2017, investigators watched Tomlinson arrive at the agreed upon location. Law enforcement officials approached Tomlinson’s vehicle, removed him, and located an LG model 550 smart phone in his possession. The investigator observed the screen was unlocked and that the ongoing conversation with the investigator was open.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office – Department of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation with support from the United States Secret Service.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Attorney General to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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