A North Carolina man received a 150-month sentence in federal prison for lying to a 14-year-old girl about his age on Instagram before traveling to Virginia to have sex with her.
Rayvon Birden, 29, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in March to one count of crossing state lines with the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity.
According to court filings, Birden contacted the 14-year-old victim via Instagram direct messaging, fraudulently claiming to be a 16-year-old called “Nolan.” The two began conversing on a daily basis via text messages and FaceTime, during which time Birden received nude photographs of the juvenile and stated a desire to meet her in person and have sexual intercourse.
Birden then went from North Carolina to Virginia, where he met the victim at a hotel near her house. They had several sexual encounters, at least one of which Birden documented.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington, D.C., announced the sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations in Harrisonburg, Virginia, investigated the case in conjunction with the Albemarle County Police Department and the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
