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David Snell, 37, is heading to federal prison for over two decades. The Dayton, Ohio man was sentenced today to 270 months – 22 years and 6 months – for preying on teenage girls online. Between May and July of this year, Snell used Reddit to target vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds, building twisted relationships based on manipulation and exploitation.
This wasn’t just online chatting. Snell systematically groomed these girls, according to prosecutors, slowly eroding their trust until they sent him explicit photos and videos. Some of the material involved sexual activity, others showed disturbing acts of self-harm – all for Snell’s sick gratification. He cycled through multiple usernames, deliberately concealing his identity while expanding his network of potential victims.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit brought Snell down in August 2024. While he eventually pleaded guilty in September 2025, hoping for leniency, Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose wasn’t buying it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Mahy secured a sentence that reflects the gravity of Snell’s crimes.
The case is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide initiative focused on dismantling online child exploitation networks. U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II stressed the program’s goal: to bring predators like Snell to justice and prevent further harm to vulnerable children. This wasn’t a quick bust, it was a targeted takedown of a digital predator hiding in plain sight.