Hillsville Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement Charge
Dewey Nelson Admitted Today To Traveling Across State Lines To Engage In Sex With A Minor

ROANOKE, VA—A Hillsville, Virginia, man faces a lengthy prison term after pleading guilty today to traveling halfway across the country for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor.

Dewey Edward Nelson, 38, entered pleas of guilty today to two counts of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of transporting a minor in interstate commerce with the intent that such individual engage in sexual activity.

“This prosecution exemplifies the commitment the United States Attorney’s Office has placed on finding those individuals who exploit children and bringing them to justice,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “This office will not allow adults like Mr. Nelson to make victims of innocent children through online enticement.”

Today in District Court, Mr. Nelson admitted that in February 2009 and again in May 2009, he traveled from his apartment in Hillsville, Virginia to Texas and Kansas, respectively, to pick up a 15-year-old girl he had met online for the purpose of bringing her back to Virginia to engage in sexual conduct.

According to evidence presented by Assistant United States Attorney Sharon Burnham, the investigation of this case began when officials from the Augusta Kansas Police Department contacted the Hillsville Police Department in regards to a missing 15-year-old girl. When Hillsville police officers went to the home of Mr. Nelson, he told authorities the child seen inside his apartment was his daughter. To further hide the victim’s true age, the defendant created a false identification card indicating the girl was over 18.

AUSA Burnham presented further evidence that the defendant met the victim online through their MySpace pages and knew she was 15 years old when he traveled to Texas and Kansas to have sex with her.

At sentencing, Mr. Nelson faces a possible term of incarceration of between 10 and 30 years for both counts one and three and a possible maximum sentence of life for both counts two and four. In addition, the defendant faces a possible fine of up to $1 million and the forfeiture of computer equipment that was found to contain child pornography. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February 4, 2010.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsville Police Department and the Augusta Kansas Police Department . Assistant United States Attorney Sharon Burnham is prosecuting the case for the United States.