Paducah man sentenced to over 10 years in prison for trying to lure child for sex 

A Paducah man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for trying to lure a child to Southern Illinois for sexual activity.

A federal jury convicted 41-year-old Robert R. Rodriguez for the attempted enticement of a minor and soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor back in October. Rodriguez was sentenced to 121 months in prison and an additional seven years of supervised release. 

U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “Those who target children for sex crimes sicken us all. The federal justice system will relentlessly pursue and prosecute these offenders to ensure they face severe consequences for their actions.”

Evidence presented against Rodriguez said that he contacted what he believed to be a minor but was actually an undercover federal agent on social media in May of 2023. Rodriguez messaged the account allegedly belonging to a 9-year-old seeking to engage with the child and reportedly asked for photos. Law enforcement arrested Rodriguez in Marion, Illinois when he went to a meeting with what he thought was the child.