BEDFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) took a Shelbyville man into custody after he was accused of soliciting a sexual relationship with a minor through video games, as well as distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The TBI said agents started investigating the case in February 2024 after a California police department shared information about a juvenile victim who reported a man solicited her for an online sexual relationship through “Roblox” and “Call of Duty.”
Authorities identified the man as Ricky Lee Bonifant Jr., who reportedly possessed and distributed CSAM on multiple online platforms.
According to the TBI, agents arrested the 40-year-old man on Wednesday, Feb. 5, charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of solicitation of a minor, and two counts of solicitation of a minor by electronic means. As of Thursday, Feb. 6, Bonifant is being held in the Bedford County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
No additional details have been released about this ongoing child exploitation case.
Officials said the TBI is an affiliate of the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. If you have any information about cases of online child exploitation, you’re asked to contact the TBI Tipline by calling 1-800-TBI-FIND or emailing [email protected]. You can also submit a report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline.
To learn more about cybercrime, child exploitation, and safeguarding your loved ones, follow this link.
