Navy Psychologist Michael Widroff Pleads Guilty to Enticement of a Minor

October 19, 2023

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty yesterday to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, on May 25, Lieutenant Michael Andrew Widroff, 34, a Naval Officer previously assigned as the psychologist for the USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN-78) in Norfolk, initiated sexual conversation with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl over Snapchat. He later expressed that he thought the girl was “hot” and that he wished to meet her in person. Widroff instructed the girl on how to masturbate and explained that he wished to engage in numerous sexual acts when they met. On June 7, Widroff drove from work to meet with the girl for sex and deleted the incriminating Snapchat application off his phone prior to his arrest.    

Widroff is scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu is prosecuting the case.

Source: “Active-Duty Navy Psychologist Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charge,” news release of U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia, Oct. 13, 2023, URL: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/active-duty-navy-psychologist-pleads-guilty-child-exploitation-charge