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A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting two Upper Peninsula children.
Prosecutors say 35-year-old James Masterson of Myrtle Beach groomed a Sault Ste. Marie girl online for years, and eventually persuaded her to post sexually explicit video herself and a sibling on social media.
Masterson was arrested when he traveled to the Soo to meet with the victim personally. Investigators found sexually explicit video on his phone, with him directing the girl’s activities.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Janet Neff called that Masterson one of the top two or three most egregious sex offenders she had sentenced. Masterson will remain on supervised release for 10 years after his release from prison.
This case was developed as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Multiple law enforcement agencies worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan to prosecute it.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, including resources for children and parents, click here.
