A federal district judge in Miami has imposed a 30-year prison sentence against an Ohio man who solicited sexually explicit images from a 14-year-old South Florida girl.
Adam Gino James Cotte, 36, met the minor victim on an internet messaging website. In August 2022, he communicated with her through social media, text messages, and video chats.
During their exchanges, Cotte (located in Ohio) directed the 14-year-old girl (located in South Florida) to take and send him nude images of herself.
In addition, Cotte instructed the victim to have her friend (also a 14-year-old child) record a video of herself masturbating.
At the time of these illicit communications, Cotte was a registered sex offender and had been convicted in Ohio in 2020 of a state child exploitation crime.
On October 29, 2024, Cotte admitted to the illegal conduct, pleading guilty to one count of attempted production of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
In addition to the 30-year prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom sentenced Cotte to a lifetime of supervised release after prison.
He also will have to register as a sex offender. A restitution hearing is set for May 23, 2025.
