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Date: 10-14-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Derek Thomas
Case Number: 4:19-CR-12
Judge: Rebecca Beach Smith
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Newport News County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Lisa R. McNeel
Defendant's Attorney:
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Description:
Newport News, VA - Man Sentenced for Sexually Abusing a Child and Child Pornography
A Williamsburg man was sentenced today to six years in prison for travelling to North Carolina to sexually abuse a child, and receiving child pornography from a child in Nebraska.
According to court documents, Derek Thomas, 26, met Jane Doe #1 online and began a relationship during the summer of 2018 when she was 14 years old. During the summer, both Jane Doe #1 and Thomas sent nude images of themselves to one another over social media platforms. Eventually, Thomas travelled to North Carolina to engage in sexual activities with the child. Also, during the summer of 2018, he met Jane Doe #2 on-line. They sent nude images of themselves to one another. Thomas knew the age of each victim prior to engaging in criminal activity with the children.
This case was brought as 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. Led by U.S. Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa R. McKeel prosecuted the case.
Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to Seventy-two (72) months imprisonment; Twenty-five (25) years supervised release; $100.00 special assessment.
10/11/2019 40 SENTENCING held before District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith: Jody Stewart, OCR. Lisa McKeel, AUSA, and Chad Dorsk, c/a counsel, present; defendant present in custody. Sentencing held on 10/11/2019 for Derek Edward Thomas (1). The court adjudged defendant guilty of Counts 1s and 10s of the Superseding Indictment. USA's Motion for Acceptance of Responsibility is granted. Counts 1,2,3-5,6: Dismissed - Superseding Indictment filed 4/9/2019; Count 10s: Seventy-two (72) months imprisonment, to be served concurrently with Count 1s; Twenty-five (25) years supervised release, to run concurrently with Count 1s; $100.00 special assessment; Count 1s, Seventy-two (72) months imprisonment, with court recommendations; Twenty-five (25) years supervised release; $100.00 special assessment; Counts 2s,3s-5s,6s-9s: Dismissed on government motion at sentencing. Defendant remanded to custody of USM. Court Hours: 2:00 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. (sche) (Entered: 10/11/2019)
10/11/2019 ORAL ORDER granting 35 Motion for Acceptance of Responsibility as to Derek Edward Thomas (1), by District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith on October 11, 2019. (sche) (Entered: 10/11/2019)
10/11/2019 41 CONSENT ORDER OF FORFEITURE as to Derek Edward Thomas. Signed by District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith on October 11, 2019. (sche) (Entered: 10/11/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: