‘Rapper’ Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography as Music Videos

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eric D. Chavis, 24, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 15 years in prison for directing and distributing music videos depicting child pornography.

Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and members of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, including Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, announced the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

Chavis pleaded guilty on June 7, 2016 to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography. At the time of his plea, he admitted that he recorded sexually explicit video footage of three minor females and that he later edited that footage into “rap” videos. He admitted to posting the videos, as well as still images from the videos on numerous websites.

Judge Watson sentenced Chavis to remain under court supervision for ten years after he completes his prison term. While on supervised release, Chavis must register as a sex offender anywhere he lives, works or goes to school.

Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force – which was formed in 2012 and is part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and which also includes authorities from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Columbus Division of Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Powell Police Department and the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office – as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Heather A. Hill and Jessica H. Kim, who represented the United States in this case.