In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Thomas Edward Petro, 32, from Ashtabula, Ohio, was sentenced to 140 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell handed down the sentence after a jury found Petro guilty of coercion and enticement of a minor in November 2024. Upon his release, Petro will be required to register as a sex offender.
"Petro enticed this child using social media," stated U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. He urged parents and guardians to engage with their children about their online interactions to protect them from predators like Petro.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Petro engaged with a 13-year-old minor through an app while living in Ohio. He sent hundreds of sexually explicit messages and media files to the minor and requested similar content in return. Despite knowing the victim's age, he insisted on secrecy regarding their interactions.
The situation came to light when the minor confided in a friend who reported it to school authorities and subsequently informed the FBI. During testimony, an FBI agent confirmed that the child had disclosed their age as 13 and that Petro did not discourage any sexual activity.
Following his conviction, Petro was taken into custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Adair Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Brandon and Scott Dunn leading prosecution efforts.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide by coordinating federal, state, and local resources for apprehending offenders and rescuing victims.
For more information about PSC or internet safety education resources, visit DOJ’s PSC page.