HSI Norfolk Investigation Leads to Virginia Man Pleading Guilty to Exploiting Children Through Social Media and Selling Child Sex Abuse Material

NORFOLK, Va. — An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk and the Virginia Beach Police Department led to a Virginia man pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of minors. Shannon Ashley Robbins, 50, of Virginia Beach, entered the guilty plea Aug. 26 at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk.

“Shannon Ashley Robbins displayed an alarming level of deviance in his efforts to peddle the victimization of children,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. “Robbins’ actions have proven him a treacherous threat to any child with whom he came into contact — physically or virtually. I commend our HSI Norfolk field office and law enforcement partners at the Virginia Beach Police Department for their tireless efforts while investigating this case. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to work diligently with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to rid our communities of such repugnant criminals.”

According to the investigation, in September 2022, authorities interviewed an individual who admitted that he used a social media messaging application to purchase child sexual abuse material from another user later identified as Robbins. Robbins and the individual negotiated the price of multiple sales of child sexual abuse material for which the individual used an internet payment app to pay Robbins. Robbins asked the individual questions to assess the age range of victims that the individual preferred. After the individual sent $100, Robbins sent several images and videos of child sexual abuse depicting victims from 12 to 14 years old.

The individual identified one boy of whom he requested more child sexual abuse material. Robbins told the individual that his collection of the boy included “290 pieces” then asked the individual to make an offer. Robbins sold the lot for $100 and sent the material to the individual, which included 14 images and six videos depicting a 12- to 13-year-old victim. Robbins and the individual conducted at least two other similar transactions. Robbins sold the individual a total of 135 sexually explicit images and 153 sexually explicit videos depicting one victim that he engaged through social media and enticed or coerced to produce child sexual abuse material.

The investigation further revealed that on Sept. 8, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTipline report indicating a user had saved, shared or uploaded four files of suspected child sexual abuse material, which was confirmed by NCMEC. On Sept. 19, 2022, NCMEC received a second CyberTipline report relating to the same IP address as the Sept. 8, 2022, report. In this second report, 17 files of suspected child sexual abuse material were identified. The IP address was assigned to Robbins’ residence in Virginia Beach.

According to the investigation, Robbins created multiple social media accounts to evade detection and deceive multiple child victims by assuming false identities. Beginning at least as early as 2021 and continuing until his arrest on Oct. 25, 2023, Robbins engaged with numerous juvenile victims to entice or coerce them into producing child sexual abuse material. As Robbins approached minor victims on social media presenting himself as a minor — sometimes female, other times male. At times Robbins sent child sexual abuse material to the minor victims, either to create the impression that Robbins and the victims were mutual participants or to demonstrate the poses Robbins preferred. Robbins used an internet payment app to pay a 12-year-old victim to produce and send child sexual abuse material to him.

Robbins was acquainted with two of his victims, each of whom lived near him. Between July 11 and Oct. 24, 2023, Robbins exchanged approximately 1,775 text messages with one of these victims. Between May 21 and Oct. 24, 2023, Robbins exchanged approximately 3,958 text messages with the other victim. He spent time with them when no other adult was present and frequently allowed them to spend time in his garage, where the victims played darts and socialized. Robbins took the victims on outings to Bass Pro Shops and to Busch Gardens with no other adult present. Robbins previously coached a local travel baseball team.

Robbins faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2025.

This investigation was conducted by HSI Norfolk and the Virginia Beach Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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. 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.

Anyone with information regarding sexual crimes against children is encouraged to call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.

Learn more about HSI’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSI_DC.