Arizona man arrested in Stanislaus while trying to traffic minor pleads guilty in federal court

An Arizona man arrested in Turlock in connection with a human smuggling operation pleaded guilty in federal court Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced.

Robert Frenchie McGriff, 44, communicated with what he thought was a minor on Instagram to lure her into a life of prostitution.

The account was created to appear to belong to a 17-year-old girl named Trish, but it was actually an undercover detective with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. The fake account claimed to show “prostitution-related activity,” according to an affidavit.

Starting in March 2019, detectives spent months communicating with McGriff, who told the supposed girl he was a pimp and wanted to recruit her, the Modesto Bee previously reported.

“I’ll be the only dad you’ll ever need,” McGriff said at one point, according to investigators.

The case was eventually turned over to the Department of Homeland Security’s Stockton office. Federal agents tracked McGriff’s phone as he traveled by bus from Phoenix, Arizona, to Turlock to meet the alleged girl.

He was arrested in June 2019 shortly after arriving at a Turlock Greyhound station, while heading to a nearby motel to meet the alleged girl.

McGriff faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, as well as a $250,000 fine. His sentence is expected to be pronounced on September 9.

The case is part of the Safe Childhood Project, created in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.