Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children

BOISE –  Timothy Raymond Schmidt, 34, of Cincinnati, Ohio pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to sexual exploitation of children, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.   

According to the plea agreement, from January 28 to April 9, 2015, Schmidt, while in Ohio, used Skype to communicate with two minor victims, ages 17 and 13, located in Valley County, Idaho.  On at least 12 occasions, Schmidt persuaded, induced, and coerced the 17 year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct over live Skype video transmissions.  On at least 11 occasions, Schmidt persuaded, induced, and coerced the 13 year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct over live Skype video transmissions.

Schmidt’s conduct was discovered by adult relatives of the victims and reported to the Valley County Sheriff’s Office.  The case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.  ICAC detectives examined the victims’ computers and discovered 33,000 lines of archived Skype chats between Schmidt and both victims, sexually explicit images of both victims, and images of Schmidt.  Within the chats, Schmidt provided personal identifying information to the victims, including his name, hometown, his place of work, where he went to college, and a description of his tattoos.  ICAC detectives were also able to identify two locations in Ohio from where Schmidt had engaged in the chats.

In May 2016, HSI Agents from Idaho and Ohio served a search warrant at one of the locations in Ohio where the Skype communications originated from.  Agents determined that Schmidt currently resided there.  They seized computers belonging to Schmidt from the residence. 

HSI Agents also contacted a resident of the second location in Ohio where Skype communications originated from, and confirmed that Schmidt had previously stayed at the residence.  Agents observed items in the residence which were consistent with items the victims reported observing in the background of Schmidt’s live chats, including a Darth Vader statue and model airplanes hanging from the ceiling.  An HSI forensic examiner examined Schmidt’s computers and discovered evidence that both had been used to communicate with the victims via Skype.

Sexual exploitation of a child is punishable by not less than 15, and up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, at least 5 years and up to lifetime of supervised release, and a $5,100 special assessment. 

Sentencing is set for January 31, 2018, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.  

“This case is an excellent example of local, state and federal law enforcement working together to take out this child sexual predator,” said Davis. “Protecting our children from sexual predators is a top law enforcement priority, and we will continue to use all available tactics and resources to prosecute these individuals.”

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to bringing to justice to those who sexually exploit children,” said Bradford A. Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle. “This case exemplifies the long reach of HSI, and its ability to coordinate and pursue investigative efforts with our law enforcement partners.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Valley County Sheriff’s Office.  The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”