A DeLand man texted a “13-year-old girl” asking her to send him lewd photos of herself, according to federal prosecutors. But “the girl” was actually an undercover FBI agent and the DeLand man will be doing time in federal prison.
Shane Christopher Abrams, 38, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan to 15-years in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.
The judge also ordered that Abrams register as a sex offender, according to a June 26 press release from the office of Gregory W. Kehoe, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
Abrams pleaded guilty on March 5, according to prosecutors.
DeLand man tried to entice who he thought was a 13-year-old girl
On April 3, 2024, an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old child, engaged in texts on a social media application with another user who was later identified as Abrams. During this conversation, the agent posing as the child advised Abrams that she was 13 years old, according to the release from prosecutors.
But that didn’t stop Abrams. Instead, Abrams began asking “the child” questions about her body and sexual experience, according to prosecutors.
Between April 4 and April 20, 2024, Abrams and the “child” exchanged numerous text messages in which Abrams solicited her to send him photos of her genitalia, the release stated. Abrams instructed the “child” how to comply with his demands, the release stated.
Abrams sent the “child” photos of his own genitalia, prosecutors stated.
On May 20, 2024, Abrams was arrested by FBI agents.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
— Frank Fernandez covers courts and criminal justice in Volusia and Flagler counties for The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand man sentenced after soliciting FBI agent posing as girl, 13
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
