Chesapeake man sentenced to 29 years in prison for preying on family’s economic vulnerability to abuse 11 year old girl

NORFOLK, Va. - A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 29 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, after befriending an economically vulnerable woman in 2020, Christopher Digges, 41, moved in with the woman and her child in 2021 after offering to help them by paying rent. On numerous occasions, Digges engaged in sexual conduct with the child and directed her to perform sexual acts to produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

Digges bought a residence in Chesapeake on October 18, 2021, and moved the mother and child into it. Digges made clear to the child that he purchased the residence for her and used it to manipulate her when she wasn't available to him. Digges struck the child in addition to sexually abusing her, and threatened to take away her possessions if she did not comply with his requests or demands.

Digges continued coercing and abusing the child until 2023 when she was 14 years old. In July 2023, the mother provided information to law enforcement that Digges had engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the child and had produced and received CSAM.

The government recovered $169,462.62 from the sale of the Chesapeake residence.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton D. LaForge and Kevin P. Hudson prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-140.