Pekin man convicted of attempting to lure minor for sex
Joseph Perkins, 32, was found guilty after about two hours of deliberations on the charge of attempted enticement of a minor. He will be held in the custody of the U.S. marshals pending his Aug. 13 sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm.
Testimony in the three-day trial at Peoria's federal courthouse indicated that Perkins engaged in several sexually explicit chats with the 'girl' — in reality an FBI agent. The chats, according to federal court records, began in January 2023 and lasted through March 2024.
Finally, Perkins set up an time to meet with the 'girl' at a Starbucks location in Peoria. When he arrived at the store, agents found him and arrested him. He said, according to court records, that he had gone to the store to have sex with the 'girl' but while on his way, changed his mind.
He now faces at least 10 years and possibly up to life in prison when he's sentenced. He could also be placed on a lifetime term of supervised release — the federal version of probation — if he's released from custody.
The case against Perkins was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Justice Department to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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