A jury in Peoria, Illinois, has found Joseph Perkins guilty of attempting to entice a minor. Perkins, aged 32 and from Pekin, Illinois, will be sentenced on August 13, 2025, at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria.
Reports revealed that between January 2023 and March 2024, Perkins engaged with whom he thought was a thirteen-year-old girl through an online platform, expressing his intent to engage in sexual activities with her. In March 2024, he traveled to Peoria with the intent to meet the girl but was arrested by federal agents upon arrival.
In such cases, the established penalties include a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, alongside a minimum of five years to life of supervised release. Currently, Perkins is held by the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Field Office led the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa P. Ortiz and Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at addressing the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project combines efforts from U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) to find and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. Additional information can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.