MERCER COUNTY — A Rockford man was arrested by the FBI after they said he sent sexually explicit images of minors using the social media app Kik, while also trying to meet up with a 10-year-old girl for sexual activity, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
Jeffrey John Armstrong, 51, was arrested and booked into the Lucas County Jail while he awaits his detention hearing on charges of receipt and distribution of child porn and coercion and enticement.
Armstrong’s hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. today at the Northern Ohio District Court.
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Armstrong was the subject of an undercover FBI operation, where an agent engaged in a conversation with the 51-year-old on the Kik app, according to court records.
While being interviewed by the FBI, Armstrong “admitted to messaging with others on Kik about sexually exploiting minors,” records read.
The FBI said he initially said he did it to “mess with people”, but later said “he did so to have social conversation and maybe fill some emotional need, although he denied a sexual attraction to minors.”
Armstrong told the FBI he asked for and sent sexually explicit images of minor using the app, court records read. He thought he was talking with adult men.
In addition to the child porn allegations, the FBI said Armstrong also used Kik to communicate with the undercover agent “regarding traveling to engage in sexual activity with the...10-year-old daughter,” records read.
“Armstrong claimed that this was just ‘talk’ and that he would never do it,” an agent wrote in court records. “However, Armstrong admitted that he had also asked others online...for advice about how to proceed with sexual contact with children.”