He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Greenbelt, Md (KM) In U-S District Court in Greenbelt on Friday, Stephen McGrath, 44, was sentenced to 22-years in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised released. He’s also required to register as sex offender.
The US Attorney’s Office for Maryland says McGrath pleaded guilty to federal charges of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity in order to produce child pornography, and possession child pornography.
McGrath admitted in his plea agreement that between June 16th and October 9th, 2017, he used the internet based applications “MeetMe” and “KIK” to communicate with girls between the ages of 12 to 16, posing as a female modeling agent. He confirmed the ages of the girls, and asked for photos, including nude and sexually explicit images, which the victims sent to McGrath as part of a “modeling evaluation.” Federal officials say McGrath distributed sexually explicit images of Victim 6, a 14-year-old girl, to two of her male friends.
Law enforcement agents served a search warrant on McGrath’s home on October 13th, 2017, and seized his cell phone. After getting the password to open up the phone, investigators found folders with female names which contained pictures and videos with more than 600 images of child pornography, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May, 2006 by the US Department of Justice, to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
By Kevin McManus