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Calling it a case of “actually horrible conduct,” a federal Decide sentenced a self-described sugar daddy in north-central Florida who groomed and sexually exploited a 13-year-old woman to just about three a long time in jail in a very disturbing case.
The FBI mentioned the woman, who was 12 on the time, was amongst a bunch of younger women promoting sexually express pictures of themselves over Snapchat and the suspect as soon as picked her up in his automobile at her constitution center faculty in Gainesville for a sexual encounter.
U.S. District Court docket Decide Allen Winsor on Tuesday sentenced Justin Ray Crosby, 25, of Hawthorne, Florida, to 320 months in jail — almost 27 years — after Crosby pleaded responsible to felony expenses of manufacturing and distribution of kid pornography. Crosby additionally was ordered to pay $20,000 to the younger woman he victimized. It wasn’t clear whether or not he had that a lot cash.
“You have got actually horrible conduct right here,” the Decide mentioned. “You have got a youngster, an grownup however nonetheless a youngster, benefiting from a younger youngster in a horrible manner. This can be a tough case.”
Crosby, who beforehand labored at a Tractor Provide Co. retailer, didn’t say a lot within the courtroom. He responded politely when the Decide requested questions. He wore a black-and-white striped jumpsuit and orange sandals, restrained by chains and shackles. His hair was matted.
The younger woman was not within the courtroom.
Crosby’s authorized troubles might not have resulted in that federal courtroom. He’s a suspect in a separate sextortion case below investigation by the Sheriff’s Workplace in Clay County, northeast of Gainesville, based on federal court docket information. In these instances, defendants are suspected of tricking victims into paying them, sending sexually express pictures or performing sexual favors over threats to embarrass victims publicly. No state legal expenses have been filed towards Crosby but in that investigation.
Crosby’s lawyer, federal public defender Darren Johnson, mentioned Crosby was closely utilizing marijuana and hooked on oxycodone when the crimes occurred involving the 12-year-old. He mentioned Crosby was experiencing psychological well being issues as a result of he had lately separated from the mom of his youngster and had been dwelling alone. Johnson requested the Decide to condemn Crosby to not more than 18 years in jail, citing Crosby’s personal age and his lack of prior legal document.
The prosecutor mentioned Crosby, who was arrested in Might, deserved to spend a long time behind bars. The lead prosecutor, Frank Williams, urged the Decide to condemn Crosby to 30 years to life.
“This damaged and susceptible 12-year-old woman was prepared to supply herself for the sexual pleasure of others,” Williams mentioned. “Mr. Crosby groomed her and exploited her.”
The FBI launched its investigation in July 2022 after the social media service Snapchat reported one among its customers, a minor later recognized because the sufferer in Crosby’s case dwelling in Alachua County, sending a sexually express picture of herself. Investigators searched her Snapchat account and located proof that she was promoting pornographic content material of herself to males utilizing the Money App fee service.
The woman, who wasn’t charged with against the law, initially denied to investigators that she had met anybody for intercourse then — after brokers discovered one other Snapchat account she was utilizing to speak with Crosby — admitted she had lied. Utilizing the title “Casey,” Crosby was chatting together with her way back to January 2022 below an alias that referred to himself as a “sugar daddy,” the time period for a boyfriend who comes with monetary advantages.
The FBI mentioned Crosby solicited and acquired express pictures from the woman and later recorded a video in April 2022 of himself having intercourse with the woman in his automobile. Brokers mentioned he despatched the video to no less than one different particular person on Snapchat. They mentioned Crosby drove to Gainesville to select up the woman for his or her encounters, together with no less than as soon as when he picked her up close to the workplace at her constitution center faculty in Gainesville, the Caring and Sharing Studying Faculty.
The principal of the varsity, Curtis Peterson, in an interview, mentioned he was unfamiliar with the case and declined in any other case to remark.
The teenager victimized by Crosby is in counseling and coming to phrases with what occurred, mentioned her therapist, Jamie Saunders.
“She is indignant and in addition confused as a result of she is coming to phrases that she was being taken benefit of,” Saunders mentioned, based on court docket information. “She can also be grieving the lack of what she believed was a relationship.”
Crosby’s mom, 44-year-old Bobbie Jo Crosby, mentioned she was unaware of her son’s actions.
“I used to be actually shocked. I truly thought this was a mistake,” she mentioned.
She mentioned Crosby was by no means in bother beforehand and solely fought as soon as at school.
“He’s at all times been a great child,” she mentioned. “I feel that in the course of the time that this occurred, he was going by means of a lonely state in his life.”
Underneath the Decide’s ruling, Crosby can be in his early 50s earlier than he’s launched from federal jail. The Decide additionally ordered him to be topic to supervised parole for the remainder of his life.
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This story was produced by Recent Take Florida, a information service of the College of Florida Faculty of Journalism and Communications. The reporter might be reached at [email protected]. You’ll be able to donate to assist our college students here.
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