Canadian man faces 16 years in prison for flying to Atlanta to have sex with teen

A sketch shows Yves Joseph Legault in federal court last year.

A sketch shows Yves Joseph Legault in federal court last year.

A Canadian man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison and supervised release for the rest of his life for flying to have sex with a Marietta teenager last year, prosecutors said Thursday.

Yves Joseph Legault, 54, of Ontario, pleaded guilty in September to enticing a child to engage in sexual activity online, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.

Legault met the 13-year-old metro Atlanta girl on the website Omegle, which allows for free, anonymous video chats. He asked her to perform sexual acts on camera, prosecutors said.

He eventually arranged to travel to Atlanta for the purpose of having sex with her.

The girl’s mother alerted the FBI about their relationship after intercepting a package Legault sent the teen. He was arrested Aug. 11, 2017, after flying to Atlanta.

Prosecutors said Legault also pleaded guilty to asking an 8-year-old girl in Mississippi to “engage in sexually explicit behavior” while they were chatting over a live stream.

“Predators use the internet and social media sites to lure unsuspecting teens into their web of deceit,” Pak said in a statement. “Fortunately, our law enforcement partners adapt quickly to new methods these individuals use, and catch those who prowl the Internet to engage in sexual activity with minors.”

After his release from prison, Legault will be deported back to Canada, officials said.

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