PHOENIX — A 21-year-old Phoenix man has been arrested and now faces multiple child exploitation charges after allegedly using a popular children’s gaming platform and Discord to target and send explicit material to minors, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Investigators say Richard Lee McLemore Billingsley messaged several individuals who self-identified as minors on Roblox, a widely used online game and social platform for children, then continued the interaction on Discord, where he shared nude and sexually explicit content, including child pornography. Court documents indicate Billingsley admitted to one minor that he “‘fishes’ for minors” on the gaming platform.
Billingsley was arrested in late December following an investigation that began after Discord alerted law enforcement to suspicious contact between Billingsley and accounts believed to be minors. Police say the activity took place on both Roblox and Discord — platforms that have millions of users worldwide and are often frequented by children and teenagers.
The arrest comes amid a broader rise in online enticement cases, with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office reporting a more than 192 % increase in such cases last year alone. Prosecutors and child safety advocates warn that social gaming environments — where interaction between users is common — can create opportunities for predators to engage with young people, even when safety features are in place.
Child safety organizations emphasize that while platforms like Roblox have moderation and age-based safeguards, parents and guardians still play a critical role in supervising children’s online activity. Experts note that ensuring privacy settings are activated and teaching kids about online risks are key measures in protecting them from exploitation.
Authorities continue to investigate and encourage anyone with information about additional potential victims or similar incidents to contact the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office or local law enforcement.
