Man sentenced for engaging in sex with minor in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE – A 24-year-old New York man who admitted that he befriended then engaged in sexually explicit communications online with a 15-year-old Rhode Island boy, and who then relocated to Rhode Island and repeatedly engaged in illicit sexual activity with the minor, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.

Caleb Brown and the young teenager were discovered by Warwick Police in a baseball field dugout in August 2019, after a concerned citizen reported to police that a male was observed living in the dugout with what appeared to be a minor child.

After placing Brown in a police cruiser, the 15-year-old told police he met Brown online approximately six months prior and that he had been dating Brown since that time. The youngster told police he had been spending nights outside with Brown, while telling his parent’s he was staying at a friend’s house.

Prior to traveling to Rhode Island from the Bronx, Brown and the victim engaged in sexually explicit online communications and exchanged sexually explicit images. Officers viewed a steady stream of intimate and sexually explicit text messages between Brown and the boy. The text messages also revealed discussions of where the two should meet and sleep, and Brown advising the youngster with ways to conceal the true nature of their relationship.

Investigators also discovered 12 videos taken by Brown of him engaged in sexual contact with the victim.

Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, Brown was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison to be followed by 8 years supervised release, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Warwick Police Chief Colonel Rick Rathbun.

Brown pleaded guilty on October 5, 2020, to travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.

United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Warwick Police Chief Colonel Rick Rathbun thank the FBI and the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.