A Navajo, New Mexico man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor through text messages and social media. The sentencing of Dustin Rockmen, aged 33, was announced today. Rockmen is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
Court documents revealed that between February 1, 2021, and April 1, 2021, Rockmen sent communications via text and Facebook to a minor under the age of 18 to persuade her to engage in illegal sexual acts. He engaged in repeated sexual acts with the victim, threatened her to continue these acts, distributed an image of the victim involved in a sexual act with him, and sent pornographic material to her.
Following his prison term, Rockmen will face five years of supervised release. In the federal system, parole is not available.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting as part of Project Safe Childhood. This initiative aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse and was launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006.
For further information on Project Safe Childhood, visit Justice.gov/PSC.