Authorities say a 29-year-old Rhode Island man accused of using online gaming platforms to carry out a sextortion case involving a child in Green Cove Springs is being held out of state and is expected to be extradited to Florida. According to prosecutors, the suspect communicated with the minor through several platforms, initially connecting via the video game Fortnite before continuing conversations on Snapchat and Roblox. Officials allege the child sent hundreds of explicit photos and videos. The suspect was arrested earlier this month in West Warwick, Rhode Island, and is being held without bond.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the case during a Monday news conference. The Attorney General’s Office identified the defendant as 29-year-old Justin Adkins and said he faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree use of a child in a sexual performance and possession of child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors state that if convicted on all counts, Adkins could face up to 85 years in prison, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
How investigators say he groomed the child
Investigators say Adkins first contacted the victim in 2024 through Fortnite, exchanging phone numbers before continuing conversations on Snapchat and Roblox. Officials allege that he then pressured the child to send sexual images. According to investigators, Adkins reportedly sent adult pornography as examples, purchased virtual currency such as V‑Bucks and Robux, and bought an iPhone to enable the child to send higher-quality material, as reported by News4JAX.
Arrest and extradition
Investigators report that an arrest warrant obtained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Green Cove Springs Police Department was executed in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on February 3, resulting in Adkins’ arrest. Officials say he is being held without bond in Rhode Island while extradition arrangements are finalized so he can face charges in Florida. The Office of Statewide Prosecution, FDLE, and GCSPD led the multiagency investigation, with Rhode Island authorities providing assistance, as per WTSP.
What parents can do
At the news conference, officials advised parents to monitor the gaming and social media platforms their children use. They recommended reviewing privacy settings and watching for unexplained gifts or expensive in-game purchases that could be used to manipulate children. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides resources, including checklists and guidance on parental controls, in-app purchases, and reporting suspected exploitation, at SecureFlorida.org.
Legal next steps
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Adkins faces one count of second-degree use of a child in a sexual performance, one count of third-degree transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic device, and 13 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting a child’s sexual performance in Florida. He also faces two counts of second-degree child molestation in Kent County Superior Court in Rhode Island. Extradition arrangements were discussed at the press conference, and Florida prosecutors are expected to take the lead once Adkins is transferred into state custody.
