Federal officials have reported that a man from Indiana attempted to transport a teen girl from her Texas residence for sexual intentions, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. As a result, he has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars. The authorities stated that the 26-year-old individual Ryan Steele, who resides in Fort Wayne, traveled to Texas back in March 2023 in order to find the 16-year-old girl with whom he had been conversing online in an effort to take her to his house, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

Upon investigation, law enforcement learned that Steele was en route to Texas, and, upon reaching the state, it was revealed that he was trying to find the minor. Following his arrest, he confessed to authorities that he intended to bring the teen to his residence in Indiana for both residence and “engaging in sexual [acts].” 

According to prosecutors, Steele admitted to officials that he was aware the girl, whom he had been communicating with since she was merely 11, was underage. He pleaded guilty to

“attempting to transport a minor”

and received a 10-year prison sentence in addition to five years of supervised release. 

Multiple law agencies were involved in this case including the Department of Homeland Security and local agencies from Texas and Indiana.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?