Baltimore Predator Ashe Gets 7+ Years for Sick Scheme

BALTIMORE, MD – Eric Donovan Ashe, 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, will spend the next 85 months in federal prison after being sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander for the sickening distribution of child pornography. The sentence, handed down today, also includes 15 years of supervised release and mandatory registration as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) upon his release. The announcement was made by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and FBI Baltimore Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski.

From 2017 to September 2019, Ashe ran a depraved online operation, posing as multiple minor girls to sell fabricated pornography to men. The scheme netted him over $24,000 in gift cards. But the exploitation didn’t stop at fabricated images. Ashe spent at least five years actively seeking out and possessing real child pornography, demonstrating a long-term obsession with exploiting vulnerable children.

The details are chilling. In 2016, Ashe began communicating with a 13-year-old girl (identified as Minor Victim 1) on social media, initially pretending to be a female peer. He then transitioned to direct communication, engaging in sexually explicit conversations. Even more disturbingly, Ashe created a fake social media profile using pictures stolen from the victim’s actual account, without her consent, effectively stealing her identity to fuel his scheme. He then used this fabricated identity to solicit and arrange the exchange of explicit content with dozens of men.

On September 27, 2017, Ashe, posing as Minor Victim 1, sent a detailed “menu” to potential buyers, outlining prices for various images and simulated sex acts, offering explicit content in exchange for gift cards. He directed buyers to send payment and then delivered the material through another messaging application. Between July 2017 and December 2018, Ashe racked up over $24,000 in gift card purchases, spending at least $17,000 on electronics, restaurant gift cards, and clothing – all delivered to his Baltimore address. He also utilized two other fictitious profiles of purported minor females, including sending a disturbing 1 minute and 41 second video depicting a prepubescent girl engaged in sexual acts.

A September 11, 2019, search of Ashe’s residence yielded three devices containing over 500 videos and 250 images of child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent minors. Forensic analysis revealed a disturbing history of searches dating back to 2014, including phrases like “movies about kids getting raped,” “are all men pedophile,” and even “necrophilia.” These searches paint a horrifying picture of a deeply disturbed individual actively seeking out the most vile and exploitative content.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation. Ashton’s conviction serves as a grim reminder of the predators lurking online and the vital importance of protecting our children. Anyone with information regarding child exploitation is urged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or their local law enforcement agency. Ashe’s actions are a betrayal of trust and a stain on the city of Baltimore.