Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for producing images of child sexual abuse of an 8 year-old victim.

“We must do everything possible to protect our children from dangerous sexual predators like Brown,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Child sexual abuse is a horrific and abhorrent crime. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for ensuring that Brown will now be in a place where he cannot prey on our most vulnerable victims.”

According to court documents and evidence, Leedente Darrell Brown, 32, met dozens of young girls, including an 8-year-old, in real life and online, and had them produce child pornography for him and other horrible sex offenders who were in group chat rooms with Brown. He was identified after a Virginia Beach Police Department officer responded to a Peeping Tom call. Investigators later learned that Brown was attempting to meet the 8-year-old girl to engage in sexual acts. The 8-year-old victim reported that Brown told her not to tell anyone, and if she did, he would kill her.

“Adults that prey on innocent children are despicable,” said Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk. “Brown’s victims will have to cope with the longstanding effects of his abuse for years to come. HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate sexual predators like Brown to ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Brown has a significant criminal history which includes violence. In 2005, he was convicted of Assault and Battery of an 11 year-old. He was also convicted in March 2013 for Assault and Battery for cutting someone inside the MacArthur mall.

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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Norfolk, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-42.