Anson, Texas Man Federally Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor After Arranging to Meet Purported 15-Year-Old Girl

An Anson man was charged with attempted enticement of a minor after arranging to meet a purported 15-year-old girl, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

Ervin Joe Campbell, 63, was charged by a federal criminal complaint and arrested on February 26, 2026, for the federal offense of attempted enticement of a minor. He made his initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John R. Parker.

"The collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners took another alleged would-be predator from our streets," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "This case highlights the importance of devoting resources to unearth sex trafficking in the Northern District of Texas. We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute these cases."

According to the complaint, Ervin Joe Campbell allegedly attempted to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual he believed to be fifteen years old to engage in prostitution and sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense. As alleged, on February 25, 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the Abilene Police Department, and the Texas Attorney General's Office conducted an undercover chat operation in Abilene, Texas, targeting the solicitation of prostitution and child predators. During the operation, AG Investigators posed as minors, aged fifteen and sixteen, via an undercover account. The account posted on Facebook Marketplace as "Massage and Fun." Campbell allegedly contacted the account and agreed to pay $200 for sex with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.

The complaint alleges that Campbell sent a picture of himself and stated he was 60 years old. After being told that the person he was communicating with was fifteen, Campbell replied, "I could get in trouble," followed later by "I'm not a cop, are you?" The undercover investigator informed Campbell that her sixteen-year-old friend was available as well and provided the price of $500.00 for sexual intercourse with both girls. The messages exchanged between the undercover investigator and Campbell included:

According to the complaint, Campbell arrived at a prearranged meeting place with two condoms and $652.00 cash. Officers also found a cellphone on which Campbell had saved the undercover investigator's number as "15."

If convicted, Campbell faces a sentence of at least 10 years in federal prison up to life imprisonment. He remains in federal custody pending detention and preliminary hearings on March 3, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Parker in Abilene, Texas.

Homeland Security Investigations Abilene Division, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division in Abilene, the Abilene Police Department, and the Texas Attorney General's Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney James is prosecuting the case.

A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Campbell is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.