Lynchburg, VIRGINIA – A Miami, Florida man, who exploited minor girls via the internet and extorted the to send him nude pictures of themselves, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Lynchburg, Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle announced.
Lenny Baldwin Jr., 22, of Miami, previously pled guilty to one count of persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing a minor into producing child pornography. The defendant was sentenced today, as per the terms of his plea agreement, to10 years in federal prison and lifetime supervision upon his release from prison.
According to evidence presented at previous hearings, Baldwin used the internet to produce images of child pornography by soliciting girls known to him to be minors to send him naked photographs of themselves. Baldwin then attempted to extort additional nude photographs from the minor girls by threatening to “expose them” online, meaning he would publically post their naked photographs if they didn’t send him more nude pictures of themselves.
Evidence collected during the course of the investigation showed the Baldwin was using the internet to solicit minor girls across multiple jurisdictions and his online account records show that he attempted to get naked photographs from multiple minor girls on a frequent basis.
The investigation of the case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Appomattox County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber prosecuted the case for the United States.