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Mark A. Chandler, a 37-year-old man from Mount Orab, Ohio, was arrested for allegedly exploiting minors from California, Texas, and Michigan. Chandler used social media apps to connect with his victims, all approximately 14 years old, and paid them to engage in sexually explicit acts on video. The Highland County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about Chandler in November 2025, leading to an investigation that revealed his alleged crimes. Chandler was originally arrested on local charges in Highland County and now faces federal charges in Cincinnati.
According to charging documents, Chandler groomed his victims online for up to two years, paying them with Visa gift cards in exchange for sexual videos and images. He also allegedly threatened to kill at least one of the victims if she reported him, with screen recordings and messages on his electronic devices detailing his threats to drown or cut the victim’s throat.
Chandler faces charges of sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement, and receipt of child pornography. These federal crimes carry significant penalties, including at least 15 and up to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children, at least 10 years and up to life in prison for coercion and enticement, and five to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography.
The case is part of Project Saf, and the charges were announced by United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of ICE’s HSI Detroit, Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders, and Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka P. Collins. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
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