Joe Lewis, a 55-year-old resident of Hinds County, Mississippi, has been sentenced to 292 months in federal prison for two counts of attempted production of child pornography. Upon completion of his sentence, Lewis will be under supervised release for ten years and is required to register as a sex offender.
Court documents revealed that Lewis posed as a mentor to middle school-aged boys. He sent money to his victims using Cash App and demanded that they expose themselves during FaceTime sessions, which he recorded.
The investigation began when the mother of one minor reported to the Jackson Police Department (JPD) that an older man had been sending her son money through Cash App. The JPD contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office for assistance in identifying additional victims. A forensic examination by the FBI uncovered evidence that Lewis had also distributed sexually explicit material to young boys in and around Jackson. The investigation led authorities to identify other minor victims.
Baxter Kruger, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, stated: “Those who hurt and endanger our children by committing these despicable crimes will not be tolerated and will be held accountable. This lengthy sentence ensures this defendant can never again hurt and abuse children. My office is committed to working with the FBI, Jackson Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement agencies to help protect children.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Rob Eikhoff commented: “Those who prey on minors shatter their innocence. Protecting children and holding vile predators, like Joe Lewis, accountable is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. FBI Jackson, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Jackson Police Department stand together to protect our children and ensure justice is served for all who seek to harm them.”
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted this case.
