John Robert Remlinger, a 43-year-old resident of Vallejo, has pleaded guilty to the sexual exploitation of a minor. This announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that in the summer of 2021, Remlinger initiated contact with Minor Victim 1 through a smartphone application called Wink. Although advertised as a platform for minors to connect with peers, Remlinger misrepresented his age as 17 when he was actually 39. Minor Victim 1 truthfully stated she was 13 years old. Their communication soon transitioned from Wink to Snapchat.
Using Snapchat, Remlinger persistently demanded sexually explicit content from Minor Victim 1 and instructed her on how to pose. The victim complied by sending videos and images of herself. Additionally, Remlinger recorded a live video call where the victim posed suggestively.
The investigation into this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg handling prosecution duties.
Remlinger’s sentencing is scheduled for September 12, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and could receive up to a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, along with lifetime supervised release, restitution obligations, and a $250,000 fine. The final sentence will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood’s initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The initiative leverages federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab which provides internet-safety education details.
