BOSTON, MA – Robert Burnham, 44, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, is facing federal charges after allegedly engaging in the sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old girl. The Gloucester man was arrested yesterday and charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, a charge that carries a minimum sentence of 15 years behind bars.
According to charging documents, Burnham allegedly used Snapchat to connect with the minor, falsely claiming to be in her grade. The scheme quickly devolved into coercion and threats. Burnham reportedly obtained a picture of the victim’s father’s Facebook account and falsely claimed to possess sexually explicit images of the girl, threatening to send them to her father if she refused to comply with his demands.
The alleged abuse spanned four months, during which Burnham pressured the victim to create and send numerous sexually explicit photos and videos. He allegedly provided detailed instructions for each image and video, escalating to violent threats when the minor hesitated or didn’t respond immediately. Burnham is accused of telling the victim he was “going to put f*****g hands on [her]” and that he would rape her, according to the DOJ.
The investigation revealed Burnham didn’t stop with this one victim. He allegedly contacted other minors on Snapchat, employing the same tactic – claiming to have compromising images and threatening to expose them to their families if they didn’t meet his demands. He exchanged messages with two users who identified themselves as 12 years old.
Burnham remains detained pending a hearing scheduled for September 8, 2025. If convicted, he faces at least 15 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative pools resources from federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend predators and rescue victims.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, announced the charges. Assistance was provided by the Harper County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Kansas City, and the Gloucester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. It is important to remember that the details outlined in the charging documents are allegations, and Burnham is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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