United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FORT WORTH MAN DETAINED FOR
ENTICING MINOR GIRL TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTS

FORT WORTH, Texas — Robert Rhodes, of Fort Worth, Texas, was detained today, pending trial, by U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Charles Bleil, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Earlier this month a grand jury indicted Rhodes, 29, on one count of enticement of a child.

In October 2009, an officer with the Fort Worth Police Department, working in an undercover capacity and posing as a 13-year-old female, entered a Yahoo! chat room and was contacted by Robert Rhodes, using the screen name of “rhodesrobert80.” During the course of several online chats during the next few days, the chats became sexual in nature with the defendant describing what sexual activities he would like to do with someone whom he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

More online chats ensued, and on multiple occasions, Rhodes attempted to persuade, induce or entice the 13-year-old to engage in sexual activity with him. On October 6, 2009, Rhodes contacted the undercover officer to set up a meeting in Fort Worth. The meeting was set in a public location. Once Rhodes arrived at the scene he was arrested.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, Rhodes faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. His trial is set for March 22, 2010, before U.S. District Judge John H. McBryde.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

U.S. Attorney Jacks praised the investigative efforts of the Fort Worth Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis is prosecuting the case.

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