FBI arrests man for sexually coercing teen in Hidalgo County

The FBI on Saturday arrested a man for sexually coercing a child in Hidalgo and Webb counties.

Roy Thomas Randall, who was born in 1963, was scheduled to make a first appearance in McAllen federal court on Monday morning on the charges.

The investigation began on Oct. 30 when the FBI McAllen Resident Agency received a report from the FBI National Threat Operations Center after a woman reported that an unidentified man was trying to communicate with her 16-year-old daughter over the phone, according to a criminal complaint.

That document said that on Oct. 16, Randall left a note at their residence that stated “this is directed to the woman in the red car.” The note had a phone number and the woman told FBI agents the vehicle belonged to her minor daughter.

The woman called the number to identify the person who left the note.

“Randall proceeded to ask if he was speaking with the mama or the daughter,” the complaint stated.

When she asked why he was contacting her family, Randall said he wanted to go out with her daughter and the woman told Randall no and ended the phone call. She then contacted local law enforcement and eventually, the FBI.

On Nov. 4, the FBI identified the phone number and tracked it to Randall. Several days later, on Nov. 10, the woman showed authorities a photo of the front entrance of her property, which Randall texted her at 11:47 a.m. that day. He had taken that photo.

That’s when an undercover got involved.

Four days later, on Nov. 14, the undercover assumed the child’s identity and told Randal that they were 16 and enrolled in high school. Randall acknowledged the age and then sent sexually explicit photos and messages via WhatsApp and text message to the undercover, according to the complaint.

On Nov. 20, Randall said he wanted an in-person meeting and solicited a sexual relationship with the undercover, who he believed was the minor.

“Randall advised that he was going to bring condoms for the meet, and that they would need to use them the entire visit,” the complaint stated.

The complaint said the meeting was scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday and Randall was arrested.

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