ORLANDO, Fla. -- A Brevard County sex offender this week was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for posing online as a little girl to get boys to send him child pornography, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Gregory Clive Burke of Mims posed as a 10-year-old called Emma Dixon on Snapchat and YouTube, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Using the fake profile, Burke communicated with several 12 to 13-year-old boys and girls online, federal prosecutors said.

“One of the children that Burke had been communicating with was a 12-year-old boy who lived in another state,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. 

The boy sent Burke images and videos of himself, including videos showing the boy performing a sex act on himself.

Burke, 57, was on state probation for a child-porn conviction when he was investigated by federal officials in the most recent case.

His state probation officer discovered Burke had a cell phone with internet access -- a probation violation.

U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza on Tuesday sentenced Burke in Orlando on a charge of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. 

Mendoza also ordered 15 years of supervision for Burke after he completes his 18-year sentence.

Burke's attorneys argued for no more than 10 years in prison, saying he suffered from autism.

"Mr. Burke is a sensitive, kind, and non-violent person, who despite what compared to others would amount to perhaps a more financially 'privileged' upbringing, endured significant bullying and learning disabilities during his formative years, and a lifetime worth of a lack of meaningful interventional treatment," his attorneys said in a motion. "Mr. Burke has suffered from Autism Spectrum Disorder and the maladaptive coping mechanisms he has developed associated with such a diagnosis that has been left untreated in a focused and meaningful way for this 57 years of life on this planet."

Burke was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 20, 2018. 

He pleaded guilty November 21, 2019.

The FBI and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigated Burke.

"I applaud this partnership and the agencies involved who are devoted to protecting children from these very dangerous sexual predators,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a statement. “Through their outstanding efforts, an individual who actively participated in the exploitation of our children has been removed from our communities.”  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn P. Napier and Ilianys Rivera Miranda prosecuted Burke.