Utah Gymnastics Coach Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment yesterday charging a Utah gymnastics coach and owner of USA Gymnastics World with child exploitation offenses.

According to the complaint, agents with Homeland Security Investigations arrested Adam Richard Jacobs, 33, of Woods Cross, Utah, last week. As stated in the court documents, an employee twice found a device in a unisex restroom at USA Gymnastics World. The employee discovered the device was a hidden camera with a micro-SD card and contacted police. A subsequent law enforcement investigation recovered approximately 120 video files of individuals ranging in age from toddler to adult using the restroom at USA Gymnastics World, and videos depicting the lascivious display of children’s genitalia. Additionally, approximately 40 videos show Jacobs setting up the cameras in his home and at USA Gymnastics World. Due to the volume of evidence, the investigation is ongoing. 

Jacobs is charged by indictment with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance April 14, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. 
    
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from Woods Cross Police Department, the Utah Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Kaysville Police Department, Clearfield Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Davis County Attorney’s Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carl Hollan and Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carol A. Dain, of the District of Utah prosecuted the case. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.