United States of America v. Christopher Philip Padilla

Salt Lake City, Utah criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl he was communicating with via Facebook Messenger – who was in fact an undercover officer.



According to court documents, Christopher Philip Padilla, 33, of Salt Lake City, admitted that between September 2020 and January 2021 he used Facebook Messenger and his cell phone to communicate with a 13-year-old girl. On January 15, 2021, Padilla drove to an area in Salt Lake City intending to meet and engage in sexual activity with the minor. Padilla also admitted that by using Facebook Messenger and his mobile phone, the communications transferred across state lines because they were transported via the internet, a facility of interstate or foreign commerce. In addition to his sentence of 120 months' imprisonment, Padilla was ordered to a lifetime of supervised release and must register and maintain his information under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.



U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.



The case was investigated by the Salt Lake City Police Department.



Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carol Dain, of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

Defendant was sentenced to 120 months in prison.