NORFOLK, Va. – A man from Virginia Beach admitted to coercing and enticing minors in a federal court today. Court documents reveal that in September 2022, law enforcement conducted an interview with a witness who confessed to using the messaging app Telegram to purchase illegal materials depicting minors from a user later identified as Shannon Ashley Robbins, 50. The two negotiated prices and completed multiple transactions using Cash App.
Robbins, determining the preferred age range of the buyer, exchanged money for images and videos depicting young individuals via Telegram. Law enforcement noted transactions involved materials portraying individuals aged between 12 to 14 years. On several occasions, the exchange included significant volumes of such materials, with one instance involving a “collection” of 290 pieces that was sold for $100.
On September 8, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTipline report from a user who had saved and uploaded files related to the illegal content, confirmed by NCMEC. A subsequent report on September 19 from the same IP address linked to Robbins’ residence identified additional files.
Investigations uncovered that Robbins had created multiple social media accounts to avoid detection and deceive various young victims by assuming false identities.
From as early as 2021 until his arrest on October 25, 2023, Robbins engaged with numerous minors, presenting himself as a peer and, at times, exchanged illegal content to create a false sense of participation or to indicate his preferences.
Robbins’ interactions included approximately 1,775 and 3,958 text messages with two victims known to him, between July 11 and October 24, 2023, and between May 21 and October 24, 2023, respectively. He was involved in their activities without other adults present, including outings to local attractions.
Upon his arrest, law enforcement seized Robbins’ phone, finding a substantial amount of illegal material. He is set to be sentenced on February 28, with a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and could face up to a life sentence. The sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors.
