Texas man sentenced for traveling to NC to have sex with child

A Texas man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina to engage in sexual activity with a child, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to court records, Rusty Whittaker, 44, of Austin, met the minor on an online platform called AntiLand. Whittaker continued talking with the child on Snapchat and used these online messaging platforms to solicit and view sexually explicit images and videos of the victim, authorities said. Whittaker also pressured the victim to meet him in person for illicit sexual activity, court documents said.

“Whitaker intentionally targeted, groomed, and violated a child for his own sexual gratification. While it is difficult to understand how anyone could do something like this, it is the stark reality of the danger lurking online every day. We must talk to our children to prevent them from being victimized by disgusting predators like Whitaker,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Reid.

In May 2023, Whittaker traveled to Nashville for a conference and then to Charlotte with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with the victim. Trail evidence showed he waited for the victim’s father to fall asleep, picked her up from her home, drove her to a hotel, and engaged in sexual activity with her.

“Predators like Rusty Whittaker are a parent’s worst nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “This defendant traveled across state lines to exploit a child, used technology to conceal his crimes, and inflicted long-lasting trauma on a vulnerable victim. A lengthy sentence ensures that Whittaker will never have the opportunity to harm another child.”

Whittaker also gave the victim “things of value” before dropping her off an undisclosed distance from her home, leaving her to walk barefoot, court documents said.

Whittaker was found guilty in September 2025 after a four-day trial. He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.