Lorain Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children and Possession of Thousands of Images of Child Pornography

Charles Allen Nakoff Jr., 34, of Lorain, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, June 16, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster to 30 years in prison, a life term of supervised release and ordered to pay $127,500 in restitution after Nakoff pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography and receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

“There is no tolerance in law enforcement nor society for those who harm, exploit and prey upon children,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “This office has placed a high priority on combating sexual exploitation of minors, and we will seek to hold these offenders accountable.”  

“Nakoff preyed on the innocent, and our communities are safer with him behind bars,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris III. “It is my hope that today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure to his victims. HSI is just as committed to providing care and support to the victims of these crimes as we are to catching those responsible.”

According to court documents, in April of 2020, law enforcement agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into Nakoff after receiving a tip that an online account associated with an individual later identified as Nakoff contained approximately 1,500 files depicting child exploitation material, including some victims as young as toddlers.

In July 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Nakoff’s residence in Lorain and seized three phones and three computers.  Authorities then searched Nakoff’s phones and found additional visual depictions of child pornography as well as numerous conversations via a mobile messaging and file sharing application with other users discussing and trading of child pornographic images.

During an analysis of the seized devices, investigators discovered several videos and images depicting Nakoff abusing multiple minor victims.  Investigators determined that these videos and images were self-produced by Nakoff and Rosalina C. Dragga, 33, of Lorain.

Dragga was sentenced to 121 months in prison for her role in the matter.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.