Ohio Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sex Crimes Against Minor Girls in Multiple States

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – An Ohio man, Andrew J. Stone, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for committing sex crimes against minor girls, specifically transportation of a minor for unlawful sexual activity and production of child pornography. Stone, 33, of Rocky River, appeared before U.S District Judge Sara Darrow in Rock Island. Judge Darrow ordered that Stone remain on supervised release for the remainder of his life following release from prison. Stone has remained in law enforcement custody since his arrest in Ohio in July 2017.

“Thanks to the hard work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, this dangerous predator is off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney John Milhiser. “We will continue to identify and prosecute those who prey on our children.”

Stone pleaded guilty to the charges on Oct. 17, 2018. According to court documents and admissions made in connection with his guilty pleas, Stone engaged in internet communications with a 15-year old girl who lived in Illinois. In December 2016, Stone traveled from Ohio to Illinois to meet the girl and then drove her to Iowa, where he and the girl engaged in sexual activity and Stone created video of the sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Stone admitted to illegal sexual activity with other minor girls in Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. Further, Stone admitted that he caused the girls in those states and other girls in Iowa, Virginia, and Pennsylvania to create videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct and to send the videos to Stone.

The charges were investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Moline Police Department, Illinois State Police, and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.