Juelz Sincere Armstead, 21, from San Angelo, Texas, was sentenced to 245 years in federal prison for sextorting minors and an adult across the United States on Tuesday, announced by the Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy E. Larson.
Armstead was found guilty by a Lubbock, Texas jury in April 2025 on five counts of production of child pornography, two counts of attempted production of child pornography, and seven counts of cyber stalking, following a four-day jury trial.
According to a press release, evidence presented at trial took place over approximately three years, where Armstead had met his victims, nine minors and one adult, on various social media platforms, cyberstalking and coercing them into sending sexually explicit photographs and videos. Threatening to expose the material to family, friends and others if they did not comply and send him sexual abuse material.
A testimony in the case revealed that the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office arrested Armstead for his conduct in December 2022. Upon his release from jail, he obtained another phone and continued his sextortion scheme. Armstead continued to amass more victims until his second arrest in February 2024.
“The horrendous acts against each victim in this case warranted the substantial sentence imposed here,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “We hope that the lengthy incarceration of this defendant will assist the victims as they continue in the healing process and serve as a warning to like-minded predators that we will pursue swift justice and extensive punishment for these types of despicable crimes.”
Graphic photos and images were presented during the trial, with victims from across the United States testifying about the abuse and emotional trauma inflicted by Armstead. Many victims described how his threats instilled fear in them, leading some to contemplate suicide.
During sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Mike Baker testified that there were additional victims who were too traumatized to attend the trial.
In delivering the 245-year sentence, Judge James Wesley Hendrix characterized Armstead’s behavior as “a continuous pattern of terrorizing and bullying these victims relentlessly, with no sign of mercy.” Judge Hendrix emphasized to Armstead, “You represent an incredible danger. The need to protect the public is of utmost importance in this case.”
Armstead is still being held at the Lubbock County Detention Center.
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/armstead-sex-crimes-sentence-lubbock-texas/
