Rhode Island Man Charged in Sextortion Case Involving Florida Girl

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of 29-year-old Justin Adkins of Rhode Island for his alleged involvement in a sextortion case involving a young girl from Green Cove Springs, Florida. The case began on the video game Fortnite in 2024 and later expanded to other platforms like Snapchat and Roblox, demonstrating a pattern of predators using free-to-play games, ephemeral messaging apps, and in-game currency to groom and exploit minors.

Why it matters

This case underscores the emerging trends in online child exploitation that will shape the future of child online protection. It highlights the need for enhanced age-verification tools, AI-driven monitoring of suspicious messaging patterns across apps, and cross-state rapid-response task forces to combat these crimes.

The details

According to the details, Adkins first contacted the victim on Fortnite, then moved the conversation to Snapchat, where 'images and text communications can be erased quickly.' He later encouraged the child to use Roblox, which he said had 'better visuals,' and even purchased Robux and sent the girl an iPhone to 'improve the imagery.' This progression illustrates a growing pattern of predators using free-to-play games, ephemeral messaging apps, and in-game currency or gifts to build trust and manipulate victims.

• The case began on Fortnite in 2024.
• On February 2, 2026, a Green Cove Springs detective and an FDLE agent traveled to Rhode Island to secure Adkins' arrest.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Adkins is being extradited to Florida and will be prosecuted under state law for the listed felonies. Federal charges may be added if the case involves interstate trafficking of child sexual abuse material.