James A. Chapman, a 37-year-old man from Jamestown, NY, has pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child pornography, a case that exposes the predatory use of social media to exploit minors. Known online as “Fatz Guy” and “Perverted Doe,” Chapman admitted to engaging in sexual acts with two underage girls and photographing them naked on his bed — then sharing the images like digital trophies.
The crime unfolded on November 24, 2014, when Chapman used Facebook Messenger to negotiate sexual encounters with Victim 1, who explicitly told him she was 16 years old. He offered $60 to her and her friend — also 16 — to come to his residence in Jamestown. That evening, both victims arrived, and Chapman performed sexual intercourse with each before paying them the agreed-upon cash.
After the acts, Chapman pulled out his cell phone and snapped a photo of the two completely nude, sitting on his bed. That image, captured and distributed by a grown man, is legally defined as child pornography. Investigators found Chapman sent it to four separate individuals through his Facebook accounts, spreading the abuse far beyond the initial crime scene.
Chapman’s pattern of exploitation didn’t stop there. On April 7, 2017, he initiated contact with another minor — Victim 3, then 17 — through Facebook. He pressured her into sending a sexually explicit image, which he then forwarded to a third party. Worse, he sent her the photo of the two other naked teens, weaponizing one victim’s trauma to manipulate another.
The case was cracked open through a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Jamestown Police Department under Chief Harry Snellings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango prosecuted the case, underscoring federal zero tolerance for the sexual exploitation of children through digital platforms.
Chapman pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, facing a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for September 16, 2019. The plea marks a grim victory in a case that lays bare how predators weaponize technology to harm the most vulnerable.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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