Mississippi Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Participating in a Criminal Conspiracy to Exploit Children and to Distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After less than two hours of deliberation, a federal jury in Pittsburgh convicted Justin Lee Plunk, 39, of Corinth, Mississippi, of conspiring to distribute and distributing child sexual abuse material for profit over multiple years on platforms including Instagram and Telegram.

The jury found Plunk guilty of the two counts on October 9, 2026, following a four-day trial before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.

"Justin Plunk was an active participant in a conspiracy that, for years, preyed upon and sexually exploited children for profit through a variety of online platforms, including popular social media and children's gaming apps and mobile payment services," said United States Attorney Troy Rivetti of the Western District of Pennsylvania. "Although it can never undo the harm these victims experienced, this verdict holds Plunk responsible for his role in the recruitment and abuse of those minors, and is another example of our office's commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at all levels to protect children from such crimes and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law predators who exploit and conspire to exploit minors."

"Justin Plunk exploited the most vulnerable members of our society to turn a profit," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "He operated a business that trafficked in horrific images of the sexual exploitation of children both in America and abroad. The verdict in this case sends a strong message that such horrific and depraved conduct will be met with accountability."

"This verdict reflects the jury's clear recognition of the harm caused by those who exploit children for their own profit," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec. "Our children are precious, and their safety must remain our highest priority. We are grateful for the dedicated FBI employees who work every day to protect the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that those who prey on them are brought to justice."

The evidence presented during the trial established that Plunk was part of a criminal conspiracy that operated online from at least 2021 to 2024 in which the conspirators recruited female minors, including as young as 10 years, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere to create "packages" of 30 images and seven videos of child sexual exploitation material, as well as to participate in live video calls with customers. The conspiracy operated over social media and messaging platforms that included Instagram, Snapchat, and Telegram, with one female minor also introduced to the conspiracy on Roblox. In addition, the conspiracy used multiple payment methods, including payment services Cash App and Venmo as well as gift cards from Walmart and Roblox.

The evidence established that Plunk was involved in the conspiracy in numerous ways, including receiving more than $57,000 in proceeds from the conspiracy in the form of cash transfers and retail store gift cards. Plunk had previously been convicted of enticement of a child for sexual purposes in Mississippi in 2016.

Judge Colville scheduled Plunk's sentencing for January 26, 2027. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both on each count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi Grogan for the Western District of Pittsburgh and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Pittsburgh and Mississippi Attorney General's Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Plunk.

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, including resources on Internet safety, please visit Justice.gov/psc.