Maryland Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Exploiting Several Minors

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for more than two decades for committing child sex abuse crimes.

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Isaiah Poole, 25, of Suitland, to 25 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for one count of producing child sexual abuse material.  The charge is in connection with a sextortion scheme in which Poole met and sextorted young girls through social media platforms. 

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to court documents, Poole used Snapchat and other social media accounts to manipulate and coerce at least six girls — ranging from ages 9-14 — to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves.  Poole, who pretended he was a teenage girl, manipulated the minor victims into producing and sending him sexually explicit images, often under the ruse of playing truth or dare.  He also directed the minors to expose their genital areas and engage in sexual conduct.  

After some victims informed Poole that they no longer wished to send him sexually explicit images, he threatened to send the images to their families and friends if they did not continue to produce content.  Additionally, Poole distributed the sexually explicit images he received from two minors. 

This case is 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 Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation, along with the Maryland State Police and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their valuable assistance.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Treiger and Brooke Oki who prosecuted the case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md.

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