A Royalton man has been handed a hefty 16-year prison sentence after coercing a minor into sending him sexually explicit images, officials said. Andrew John Groen, 35, fell afoul of the law when he adopted the guise of a 19-year-old to trap his underage victim using a messaging app, federal prosecutors revealed.
In a case that highlights the dark underbelly of online grooming, Groen was accused of masquerading as "Tyler" on the TextMe application, where he made contact with the minor. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Groen not only solicited explicit photos from the minor but also sent obscene materials and pushed for an illegal sexual encounter between the child and an adult man.
Royalton Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography https://t.co/P7b8LcpFYd @FBIMinneapolis @WillmarPolice
— U.S. Attorney MN (@DMNnews) February 8, 2024
The investigation, which culminated in Groen's admission of guilt to one count of the production and attempted production of child pornography, was carried out jointly by the FBI and Willmar Police Department. The gavel came down on Groen on February 6, courtesy of U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell, sealing his fate with a 192-month incarceration and a subsequent 15-year supervised release period.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor, who prosecuted the case, stated that Groen's actions were a serious violation of the law and the trust of the minor involved. The prosecution serves as a stark reminder of the relentless pursuit of justice against those who exploit children. While the sentence cannot undo the damage inflicted, it stands as a measure of accountability for a grotesque breach of moral and legal conduct.
