In McAllen, Texas, a 24-year-old man from Weslaco, Walter Phillip Wilkins, has been handed a 23-year prison sentence for enticing a minor into sexual activity. The ruling was delivered on Thursday.

According to criminal complaints submitted by the Weslaco Police Department and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Wilkins reached out to at least four teenage girls on Instagram. He engaged in conversations that quickly turned inappropriate.

Wilkins attempted to lure the girls by offering to sell them drugs or vape pens. He also solicited nude photographs and subsequently used these images to blackmail the girls.

After establishing initial contact, Wilkins persuaded the girls to meet in person, where he then committed sexual assault.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker, who was in charge of the prosecution, remarked, “The facts of this case are about as egregious as they come.”

Wilkins preyed on girls in Weslaco and rural parts of Hidalgo County.

In 2022, a 15-year-old girl told a social worker that she had been sexually assaulted. The social worker contacted the Sheriff’s Office, which conducted an investigation.

The girl met Wilkins through a friend, and they exchanged messages on Instagram.

Federal agents referred to her as MV1, an acronym for Minor Victim 1.

“MV1 stated when WILKINS found out MV1 was a minor, he responded ‘Age is just a number,’” according to a federal criminal complaint against him.

Wilkins picked up the girl on Oct. 20, 2022, and drove her to a rural area, where he sexually assaulted her.

The Sheriff’s Office charged Wilkins with sexual assault, a second-degree felony. He posted bail less than 48 hours later.

Weslaco received three more complaints about Wilkins in 2023.

In September, a woman reported that Wilkins had assaulted her daughter.

The girl met Wilkins on Instagram, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Weslaco Municipal Court, and Wilkins promised her vape pens “in exchange for sexual favors.”

They met on three occasions in August and September, according to the criminal complaint, and Wilkins sexually assaulted her.

In October 2023, police received another complaint about Wilkins.

A girl told police that Wilkins agreed to sell her drugs, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Weslaco Municipal Court. When she couldn’t pay, Wilkins sexually assaulted her.

Investigators also reviewed screenshots of his Instagram profile, which showed that Wilkins “sells Vape Pens, Pills, LSD, Shrooms and Carts for money or ‘Other’ ways of payment,” according to the criminal complaint.

Police charged Wilkins with two counts of sexual assault, a second-degree felony. He posted bail less than 48 hours later.

Weslaco received a third complaint about Wilkins in December 2023.

Wilkins had contacted a 13-year-old girl, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Weslaco Municipal Court, and requested nude photos.

After exchanging messages with the girl, Wilkins picked her up in a white SUV and sexually assaulted her.

Wilkins recorded the incident and threatened to send the video to students at her school.

“This would be any child’s worst nightmare,” said Walker, the federal prosecutor. “Especially a middle school girl.”

Weslaco charged Wilkins with continuous sexual abuse of a young child, a first-degree felony. He posted bail less than 48 hours later for a third time.

Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas accepted the case in 2024.

“Wilkins’ actions represent the worst kind of predatory behavior, targeting and exploiting vulnerable children in our community,” Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco, who heads the Homeland Security Investigations Field Office in San Antonio, said in a statement. “HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, worked tirelessly to uncover the full scope of Wilkins’ crimes and ensure he faces justice. HSI will not tolerate those who use technology to coerce, abuse, and traumatize minors. Our agents remain steadfast in their resolve to pursue child predators and protect our children from those who seek to do them harm.”

A federal judge ordered Wilkins held without bond.

“Defendant is facing significant time in prison if convicted in federal or state court,” according to an order signed by the judge. “The pattern of related conduct is significant.”

A grand jury charged Wilkins with three counts of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Faced with 10 years to life in prison on each count, Wilkins pleaded guilty.

Wilkins confessed to sexually assaulting the 13-year-old girl and waived his right to appeal. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining charges.

Guidelines published by the U.S. Sentencing Commission suggested 235 to 293 months in prison.

Wilkins returned to court Thursday wearing orange pants and a gray sweatshirt.

“He said: ‘I’m sorry for everything I’ve done,’” said his attorney, Rick Salinas of Mission. “Or something to that effect.”

Two mothers decided to speak before sentencing.

The first mother said her daughter attempted to kill herself after being sexually assaulted by Wilkins on multiple occasions.

“I am also fearful that my daughter will try to take her life again,” the first mother said in Spanish, speaking through a court translator.

After being assaulted, she said, her daughter became anxious, suffered from depression and didn’t want to attend school.

“We can’t undo history,” said Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane. “But hopefully your daughter will sleep better knowing he’ll be in prison for decades.”

The second mother said her happy, outgoing daughter had become anxious and depressed.

“I believe in the justice system,” the second mother said. “I really do.”

Wilkins, however, didn’t make a mistake, the second mother said, and deserved life in prison.

Judges set low bail for Wilkins after each arrest, the second mother said, which insulted the victims. After being released, Wilkins assaulted more girls.

“I just wanted to make sure that everyone is aware of the situation,” the second mother said. “And how we ended up here.”

Crane sentenced Wilkins to 23 years in prison. After being released, he’ll remain on supervised release for life.

“If he’d gone to trial,” Crane said, “he probably would have gotten life.”