⏱ 3 min read
A 42-year-old Tennessee man faces federal charges for allegedly transporting a teenage girl from Ohio to Florida to engage in sex. Stephen L. Negron, of Rogersville, Tennessee, was charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Cell phone data revealed the victim’s phone was powered off on February 13, and a silver Chevrolet pickup truck with a Tennessee license plate number registered to Negron was seen near the victim’s home around the same time. Investigators tracked the truck’s previous travel and found Negron’s home had a history of sex crimes involving minors.
On March 12, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Negron’s home and found evidence of a new cell phone number, which led them to the Quality Inn & Suites Palatka Riverfront Hotel in Palatka, Florida. They found the missing Ohio teen with Negron. Negron allegedly met the teenager online in 2023 when she was 16 and drugged, sexually assaulted her, and threatened violence to her and her family.
Negron faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II praised the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution.
Related Federal Cases
- Stephen L. Negron, Transporting a Minor, Ohio 2024 · Tennessee
- Conor K. Ransom, Child Pornography Trafficking, Ohio 2024 · Illinois
- Tennessee Contractor Bags 8 Years for Child Sex Abuse Images · Tennessee
- James David Martin, Child Sex Abuse Chat, Tennessee 2023 · Florida
- Jory Leedy, Child Sex Abuse, Ohio 2024 · Ohio
