Description: Norfolk, Virginia criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

On May 25, Lieutenant Michael Andrew Widroff, 34, a Naval Officer previously assigned as the psychologist for the USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN-78) in Norfolk, initiated sexual conversation with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl over Snapchat. He later expressed that he thought the girl was “hot” and that he wished to meet her in person. Widroff instructed the girl on how to masturbate and explained that he wished to engage in numerous sexual acts when they met. On June 7, Widroff drove from work to meet with the girl for sex and deleted the incriminating Snapchat application off his phone prior to his arrest.

Widroff is scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu is prosecuting the case.

T.18:2251(a) and (e) - Attempted Production of Child Pornography / T.18:1467, 2253 and 2428; and T.21:853(p) - Criminal Forfeiture
(1)
T.18:2422(b) - Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor
(2)
T.18:1470 - Attempted Transfer of Obscene Matter to a Minor
(3)

Outcome: Defendant elected to plead guilty.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: