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Press Release

Defiance man Sentenced to 30 years for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Coercion and Enticement and Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

TOLEDO – Martin Lee Wilcoxon, age 31, of Defiance, Ohio was sentenced to thirty years imprisonment by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp III after earlier pleading guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child pornography. Judge Knepp also ordered Wilcoxon to pay a $45,000 restitution, a $300 special assessment and to serve 10 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, beginning February 2022, Defendant used the social media application, KiK to chat with an Online Covert Employee portraying the persona of a 13-year-old girl. During the chats, Wilcoxon, requested the purported 13-year-old send him naked photos and videos of herself. Wilcoxon tried to arrange various meetings with the purported 13-year-old girl to have sex with her.

On June 16, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Wilcoxon’s residence. Several electronic devices were seized from his home. A forensic examination of his devices revealed more than 11,000 images of child pornography, most of which involved prepubescent females, including toddlers. Wilcoxon was also found to be the moderator of several child pornography chat groups on KiK.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Tracey Tangeman.

Contact

Thomas P. Weldon
Thomas.Weldon@usdoj.gov
(216) 622-3651

Updated October 31, 2023

Topic
Project Safe Childhood