Virginia man sentenced for exploiting dozens of minors via Snapchat

Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, received a 40-year prison sentence for one count each of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material, the Justice Department said Friday. He pleaded guilty to the crimes in April. Thomas used a Snapchat social media account to coerce 41 girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to the Justice Department. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 17.

Thomas used a Snapchat account hacked and stolen from a minor to coerce his victims into creating and sharing sexually explicit content, according to the Justice Department. He used knowledge of victims’ mental health issues or previous sexual abuse to develop relationships with them and to coerce them. He also told them that he led a criminal organization and threatened to hack their accounts or harm them and their family members, the department said.

Thomas also assaulted two minor victims in Virginia’s Fairfax County, according to the Justice Department. He planned to meet with another victim at a shopping mall, but the victim’s father learned of his plans and involved police, leading to Thomas’ arrest, according to the Justice Department.

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