New Orleans Man Sentenced to 360 Months for Engaging in Nationwide “Sextortion” Scheme That Victimized Children as Young as Seven Years Old

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that COLE DIGGS (a/k/a Kevon Godson) ("DIGGS"), age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, to 360 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe after previously pleading guilty to producing files depicting the sexual exploitation of children, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2251(a). Judge Ashe also sentenced DIGGS to a 15-year period of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, registration as a sex offender, and the payment of restitution to all of his victims.

According to court documents, on numerous instances between November 2021 and December 2022, DIGGS engaged in a scheme to obtain sexually explicit depictions of at least six minors he met via a multimedia instant messaging application that allowed users to exchange pictures and videos. The identified victims varied between the ages of seven years old and fifteen years old. In each case, DIGGS sought and obtained the sexually explicit depictions of minors by utilizing a "sextortion" scheme. In this scheme, DIGGS claimed to be a minor, sent minor victims sexually explicit depictions of adults, engaged in sexually charged communications, directed the minors on how to pose and perform when taking sexually explicit depictions, and, when the minors expressed reluctance to continue sending sexually explicit depictions, DIGGS extorted the minors to comply with his demands. Additionally, DIGGS offered to purchase, and did in fact purchase, offered to trade, and did in fact trade, sexually explicit depictions of minors, including some of those he received via his extortionate scheme, on multiple occasions.

"Today's sentence removes a dangerous, anti-social predator from our community," said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. "DIGGS' cruelly manipulative crimes against children, as young as seven years old, deserved this significant sentence. The youthful innocence, forever stolen from these children, breaks our hearts and triggers our society's worst fears. Nevertheless, strengthened by the single-minded commitment of both our office, and FBI - New Orleans, to identify, locate, and bring to justice those who prey on our children, we hope to bring security, peace and closure to these victims and their families."

"Mr. Digg's disgusting actions impacted families across this country," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office." "The sentence imposed today should serve as a warning for anybody who thinks they are going to coerce and abuse children and get away with it. The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office stand ready to find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."