Robert Frenchie McGriff, aged 44, received a ten-year prison sentence for attempted transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The sentencing was carried out by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, as announced by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents revealed that from March to June 2019, McGriff communicated with someone he believed to be a minor female on Instagram. He claimed to be a pimp and attempted to recruit her for prostitution work in Arizona. In June 2019, McGriff traveled by bus from Phoenix, Arizona, to Turlock, California, intending to transport the minor back to Arizona for this purpose. His arrest followed shortly after by law enforcement.
The case stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Prosecutions Unit and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorneys Whitnee Goins and Shea Kenny led the prosecution.
This legal action was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The project aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through federal, state, and local collaboration. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the "resources" tab.