Wesley Scott Greene Gets 10 Years for Child Exploitation

Wesley Scott Greene, 25, of Opelika, Alabama, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced today on charges of child exploitation and crossing state lines to engage in sexual activity with a minor. In a packed courtroom in Aberdeen, Mississippi, Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock handed down two 120-month sentences—ordered to run at the same time—ensuring Greene will serve no less than 10 years behind bars.

The sentencing marks the end of a years-long federal investigation spearheaded by the FBI Jackson Division’s Child Exploitation Task Force. Greene was arrested on March 24, 2016, in Opelika, Alabama, after evidence mounted linking him to the online enticement of a minor and subsequent travel across state lines with predatory intent. A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment in April 2016, charging him under 18 USC 2422(b) and 18 USC 2423(b). On July 25, 2016, Greene pleaded guilty to both counts.

The case laid bare the dark underbelly of digital predation. Authorities say Greene used interstate communication tools—online platforms and messaging apps—to groom and coerce a minor into sexual activity, violating federal laws designed to protect children from sexual exploitation. His movements across state lines to meet the victim triggered additional charges, underscoring the mobility and calculated nature of his crimes.

Following his prison term, Greene will face an additional 10 years under federal supervision—a period during which he will be monitored for compliance with strict conditions, including restrictions on internet use and contact with minors. He was remanded immediately into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, with no delay in beginning his sentence.

“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi is committed to the protection of our children and we will vigorously prosecute those predators who seek to exploit and abuse them,” said U.S. Attorney Felicia C. Adams. “Our office appreciates the hard work of all the federal, state, and local agencies that participated in this investigation.”

Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze of the FBI’s Jackson Division warned that as technology evolves, so do the methods of predators. “The FBI will remain vigilant to technological advances to stay one step ahead of those attempting to exploit children,” Freeze said. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood praised the interagency collaboration, calling the outcome “another good example of how effective law enforcement agencies can be when they work collaboratively to take criminals off the streets and away from our children.”