Federal authorities say Angel David Rubio Marin allegedly used Robux—the virtual currency on Roblox—to solicit sexually explicit photos and videos from at least three children under age 10. DHS and ICE filed an arrest detainer after his arrest in Prince William County, Virginia. DHS criticized Virginia's reduced cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, while Governor Abigail Spanberger defended her directive limiting state participation in federal immigration programs. Roblox says its chat filters prevent image and video sharing in-game. The allegations remain under investigation and are unproven in court.
DHS Files Detainer After Man Allegedly Used Roblox 'Robux' to Solicit Explicit Images From Children Under 10
The case highlights criticism of Virginia's sanctuary-style policies under Governor Abigail Spanberger, who recently ended the 287(g) program and state cooperation with ICE, allowing the illegal migrant suspect to be released back into communities before federal intervention.(Getty Images)
Federal authorities say Angel David Rubio Marin, a Mexican national, has been the subject of an arrest detainer filed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after he was accused of offering Robux—the virtual currency used on the Roblox platform—in exchange for sexually explicit images and videos from children under 10.
According to DHS and ICE, Rubio Marin allegedly enticed at least three young children to send explicit material. He was taken into custody in Prince William County, Virginia, following the allegations. The charges and detainer remain under investigation, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
DHS and ICE issued an arrest detainer for Mexican national Angel David Rubio Marin, who allegedly used Robux in Roblox to solicit sexually explicit images and videos from at least three children under 10, after he was previously released from custody in Virginia following charges of public masturbation.
Federal officials said Rubio Marin had previously been charged in Virginia with two counts related to public masturbation and was released before the current allegations were made. DHS noted that Rubio Marin entered the United States illegally at an unknown time and place, according to its statement.
Officials Respond
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized the earlier release and urged state and local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. In a statement to media she said:
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers an address in Richmond.
"This sicko preyed on innocent children by offering to pay them in a video game currency in exchange for child pornography. This illegal alien was RELEASED from jail after an arrest for public masturbation. This case is a perfect example of why we need state and local cooperation with ICE."
DHS also criticized Governor Abigail Spanberger for issuing an executive directive in February that curtailed Virginia's participation in the federal 287(g) program, which allowed certain local officers to perform limited immigration enforcement under ICE supervision. Governor Spanberger has defended the directive, saying that assigning federal immigration duties to state and local officers distracts them from enforcing state law and can harm trust between police and communities.
Platform Response and Context
Roblox, a platform popular with children that allows in-game purchases using Robux, has stated that its chat filters prevent users from sending images or videos through in-game chat. The company has emphasized its child-safety measures in public statements.
ICE and DHS declined to provide detailed operational information about the detainer. Representatives for Governor Spanberger had not publicly responded to DHS's criticism at the time of reporting. The case remains active and allegations have not been adjudicated.
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