Frisco man gets 20 years for sex exploitation at furry convention

A Frisco man was sentenced this week to 20 years in federal prison for transporting a minor across state lines to a furry convention in Atlanta, where he sexually abused the child, federal prosecutors said.

Joseph Ray Robertson, 37, pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor for sexual exploitation and was sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on Monday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. Judge Schell also ordered lifetime supervised release.

According to prosecutors, Robertson transported the child from Frisco to Atlanta in May 2024 to attend Furry Weekend Atlanta, a convention for enthusiasts of anthropomorphic, human-like animal characters. Court documents reviewed by the Denton Record-Chronicle indicate Robertson was a “parent, relative, or legal guardian” of the child, or otherwise had the child in his custody or care — a detail this newspaper has not independently confirmed against the underlying court filings.

Prosecutors said Robertson commissioned an elaborate, custom-made costume for his furry persona and sexually abused the child at the convention in acts that would constitute child molestation and sodomy under Georgia law. He also purchased sexual stimulants and devices at the event and commissioned artwork depicting his furry persona in sex acts with the child, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said Robertson’s actions “absolutely justify every day of the imposed 20-year sentence.” Mr. Combs also criticized the apparent failure of anyone at the convention to contact authorities about the child’s situation.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Frisco Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller. It was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.