NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Norfolk man was sentenced Friday to more than 19 years in federal prison after attempting to meet someone he believed was a 13-year-old child for sex, according to the Department of Justice.

According to court documents, 40-year-old Matthew Ian Britt was sentenced to 19 years and seven months after being caught in a law enforcement sting operation in July 2024. Britt is a repeat offender with prior convictions including aggravated battery and carnal knowledge of a minor.

Investigators said a task force officer was posing online as a 13-year-old girl, identified in court records as Jane Doe, using the Whisper social media platform. On July 10, Britt, under the username “weedsmoke,” messaged the account and claimed to be 33 years old. Despite being told the user was 1

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