Fairmont man sentenced to life for enticing minors

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Quionte Jordan Crawford, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to five life sentences to run concurrently for using his smart phone to convince minors to send explicit pictures and videos, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Crawford, also known as “Kayla Stevens,” age 27, pled guilty to five counts of “Enticement of a Minor” in June 2019. Crawford admitted to using his smart phone to persuade five different teenage boys to send sexually explicit pictures and videos to him. The crimes took place from November 2017 to December 2018 in Marion County.

“The defendant’s conduct was reprehensible and directed at children.  Unfortunately, technology provides many options for those with evil intent.  The defendant will now spend the rest of his life in a place where he cannot continue the vile activities he orchestrated,” said Powell.  

Crawford preyed on teenagers by using a fake persona and picture of a teenage girl to attract their attention and to coerce them into sharing the inappropriate pictures and videos. Crawford used threats at times to gain the explicit materials. 

Crawford deftly, and sometimes cruelly, employed emotional and psychological coercion in order to obtain gratification for his sexual interests.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.

This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.