Jacques Jackson has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after being convicted of raping three teenage girls he met through Instagram. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., on January 23, 2026. After his release, Jackson will face an additional ten years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated, “Our community is safer today because law enforcement agencies from around the country collaborated to put an irrepressible sexual predator in prison for a quarter century. This case is an important reminder that social media is often an abuser’s preferred means to manipulate, exploit, and victimize unsuspecting children. I urge parents to monitor their kids’ online activity vigilantly.”
Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, commented on the case: “Jacques Jackson’s actions were reprehensible and justice was served. This predator exploited social media to devastate vulnerable minors, and we will not tolerate such abuse. The FBI, in partnership with local law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue those who prey on our children.”
According to information presented in court by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and details from the investigation, law enforcement first encountered Jackson in August 2018 when DeKalb County police officers rescued a 15-year-old girl he had met online. Jackson confessed to meeting her on Instagram knowing she was underage and used blackmail and violence to coerce her into meeting him out of state.
In October 2021, another missing 15-year-old girl was located after communicating with Jackson using her brother’s phone; she reported that they exchanged explicit videos before meeting at a motel where Jackson engaged in sexual acts with her.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation pursued Jackson over several months before arresting him in June 2022 at a bus station in Big Spring, Texas. At the time of his arrest, he had a gun and $3,500 cash and was accompanied by another minor who confirmed similar conduct involving Instagram communication and sexual exploitation.
Further investigation linked Jackson via DNA evidence to an unsolved rape case from July 2015 involving another 15-year-old victim.
Jackson pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025, to one count of interstate transportation of a minor for unlawful sex and two counts of enticing minors for unlawful sex.
This case involved coordination between the Federal Bureau of Investigation; DeKalb County Police Department; Baton Rouge (LA) Police Department; Big Spring (TX) Police Department; Elberton (GA) Police Department; and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise K. Peters prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia serves as the main federal law enforcement agency for north Georgia—including Atlanta—and works closely with other agencies on criminal prosecutions such as this one while representing millions across the region (official website). The office prioritizes prosecution of threats like human trafficking and civil rights violations (official website) while collaborating with partners nationwide (official website). Theodore S. Hertzberg currently holds the position as United States Attorney for this district (official website).
For more information about this office or its work visit justice.gov/usao-ndga.
