A registered sex offender from Junction City, Kansas, was sentenced to a stern 25 years in federal prison after being convicted of enticement of a minor. The offender, Curtis Ellington, age 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern. Clayton's office highlighted the severity of the crime and the steadfast commitment to safeguarding children from such predators. "Children deserve protection from those who would exploit them," Jay Clayton said in a statement. "There is zero tolerance for this heinous conduct," according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York.
Ellington's criminal history is disturbingly lengthy. He was previously convicted in January 2007 of first-degree rape involving a child less than 11 years old in Orange County Court and received a seven-year prison sentence. As a consequence, he was required to register as a sex offender. According to the prosecution's documents, on or about April 7, 2023, Ellington traveled to Orange County, New York and slept at the home of a 15-year-old minor where he engaged in sexual activity. This act followed numerous inappropriate communications via Instagram, where Ellington expressly discussed his desire to sexually engage with the minor, information detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In the wake of this sentencing, authorities continue to urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspected cases of child exploitation. "If you suspect sexual exploitation, please reach out to our law enforcement partners," Clayton stated, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office. Individuals with potential information about sexual exploitation of children are encouraged to call the dedicated hotline at 1-800-Call-FBI. This call may very well lead to prevent further crimes or to help identify additional victims.
Beyond the prison term, Ellington is set to undergo an additional 15 years of supervised release. The collaborative effort to bring him to justice involved multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Middletown Police Department, Geary County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas. The acknowledgment of these organizations' hard work were praised by Mr. Clayton. The prosecution of the case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen of the Office’s White Plains Division.
