Mississippi Man Convicted for Child Exploitation Network

Justin Lee Plunk, a 39-year-old resident of Corinth, Mississippi, has been convicted by a federal jury for his involvement in a criminal conspiracy to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for profit. The verdict was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office, highlighting Plunk's role in a network that exploited minors to create and distribute harmful content online.

The criminal conspiracy, which operated from at least 2021 to 2024, involved recruiting minor girls, some as young as 10 years old, to produce packages of CSAM images and videos. These minors were also coerced into participating in live video calls with customers. The operation utilized various online platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, and Telegram, and even introduced one minor to the conspiracy through the gaming platform Roblox.

Plunk's criminal activities were financially motivated, with the conspiracy generating over $57,000 in proceeds. These profits were collected through multiple payment methods such as CashApp, Venmo, Walmart, and Roblox gift cards. Plunk's previous conviction for enticement of a child for sexual purposes in Mississippi in 2016 further underscores the severity of his actions.

The investigation was spearheaded by FBI Pittsburgh, with significant assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Grogan for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Plunk now faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for January 26, 2027. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This conviction is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also identifying and rescuing victims. The conviction of Justin Lee Plunk sends a strong message about the accountability for those involved in such heinous crimes, as emphasized by Assistant Attorney General A.

Tysen Duva and U. S. Attorney Troy Rivetti.

Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office remarked on the importance of protecting children and ensuring that those who exploit them are brought to justice. The dedicated efforts of FBI employees and their law enforcement partners were crucial in securing this conviction and safeguarding vulnerable members of society.