Indiana Man Who Trekked on Foot to Meet Wisconsin Minor Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 15, 2020, Tommy Lee Jenkins (age: 33) of Whitestown, Indiana, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach.

Starting on October 1, 2019, Jenkins, who had recently moved from Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Whitestown, Indiana, began exchanging instant messages with “Kylee” whom he believed to be a 14 year-old girl living in Neenah, Wisconsin with her mother.  Jenkins began demanding sexually explicit photographs from “Kylee” and making plans to engage in sexual activity with the minor.  When his numerous requests for “Kylee” to join him in Indiana were rebuffed, Jenkins began walking the 351-mile trek from Whitestown, Indiana to Neenah, Wisconsin.  Along the way, Jenkins continued to engage “Kylee” in sexually explicit conversations and updated her as to his current location.

“Kylee” was, in fact, a Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) Task Force.  Upon his arrival in Winnebago County, sheriff’s deputies and a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation placed Jenkins under arrest.

Jenkins was convicted of state charges of child abuse in 2011.  At the sentencing hearing, the government detailed for the court numerous incidents in the eight years following that conviction wherein Jenkins was alleged to have sexually abused minors and others. 

In handing down the sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge and a strong need to protect the public and deter Jenkins from abusing children in the future.  Following his release from prison, Jenkins will spend the remainder of his life on supervised release.  He will also have to register as a sexual offender.

“Because of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office’s and the FBI’s excellent work, Tommy Lee Jenkins will not be able to prey on any more children,” said United States Attorney Krueger.

This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble and Julie F. Stewart.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

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For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700

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