According to the Attorney General, the suspect and the minor communicated through Snapchat and Fortnite.
GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A man from Rhode Island is now facing charges in Florida, accused of using social media and gaming platforms to exploit a child.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier revealed the arrest of 29-year-old Justin Adkins, following a comprehensive investigation that began over a year ago. This investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Green Cove Springs Police Department (GCSPD).
Authorities reported that Adkins first made contact with the child in 2024 through Fortnite, a widely played online battle royale game among young users.
Their interactions on the gaming platform eventually led to the exchange of phone numbers, transitioning their communication to the social media platform Snapchat, officials stated.
Uthmeier disclosed that Adkins manipulated the child into believing they were in a romantic relationship, despite the significant age difference, and coerced the child into producing and sending hundreds of explicit images and videos, offering incentives like a new iPhone in return.
“That’s how sick this dude was,” he said.
Adkins also sent the child V-bucks, which is a currency used in Fortnite, and Robux, the currency in Roblox.
Adkins also reportedly sent adult pornographic material and would ask the child to recreate it.
An arrest warrant obtained by FDLE and GCSPD was carried out by local law enforcement in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, where Adkins is currently being held without bond and will soon be extradited to Florida.
Adkins is facing multiple charges, including using a child in a sexual performance, transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic device and 13 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting sexual performance by a child. He is also facing criminal proceedings in Rhode Island for two counts of second-degree child molestation.
“Parents need to wake up to the disturbing reality that we are seeing online, because yet again, we caught a child predator using Snapchat and Roblox to groom and exploit a child,” Uthmeier said. “Thanks to the Green Coves Springs PD, FDLE, and our Office of Statewide Prosecution, the child predator is in cuffs and will be extradited from Rhode Island to face justice in Florida.”
If convicted on all counts, Adkins faces up to 85 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
“Hopefully he’ll spend the rest of his life here in this state,” Uthmeier said.
This announcement also comes a few months after Uthmeier issued criminal subpoenas to Roblox over allegations that the site is aiding predators into accessing and harming children.
“Platforms like Roblox have become breeding grounds for predators to gain access to our kids,” Uthmeier previously stated. “We will stop at nothing in the fight to protect Florida’s children, and companies that expose them to harm will be held accountable.”
