BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (TRIBUNE) — A Birmingham resident found himself facing serious charges on Tuesday for allegedly exploiting a minor, as revealed by the Department of Justice.
Robert Lee Ford Jr., aged 35, admitted guilt to two allegations of child sexual exploitation in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline G. Haikala, representing the Northern District of Alabama. The investigation kicked off on January 24, 2025, when a deputy from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Children’s of Alabama hospital in Birmingham following reports of a child assault incident.
The young victim’s mother reported that her 14-year-old daughter had been victimized by Ford. Local authorities, collaborating with the FBI, carried out a thorough investigation. This led to a search warrant being executed at Ford’s residence, culminating in his apprehension.
The FBI extended their investigation by obtaining a federal search warrant to scrutinize Ford’s online accounts. This digital probe revealed several videos depicting Ford committing acts of sexual abuse against the victim on various occasions between December 2024 and January 2025.
“Children deserve to be shielded from those who attempt to exploit and harm them,” stated U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “The defendant’s guilty plea is a step towards justice, as he acknowledges his crimes and faces the consequences of the damage inflicted on the victim.”
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative focused on child sexual exploitation and abuse. The FBI Birmingham Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case alongside the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and J. Patrick Lamb are prosecuting the case.