Macon Predator Sentenced for Online Child Exploitation

MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison for child sexual exploitation after coercing minors to send him explicit content online. Deon M. Moore, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell following his guilty plea.

Moore used Facebook pseudonyms and deceptive tactics to target young girls, some as young as 10, according to court documents. He engaged in conversations with over 1,300 users, ultimately leading to the exploitation of 30 minors. Four juveniles sent him child pornography, while others provided explicit images.

In one case, Moore represented himself as a teenage girl and asked a 10-year-old girl for explicit videos, which she sent after he provided examples. The investigation began in May 2017 by the Fairborn, Ohio, Police Department following reports from the mother of a victim.

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary emphasized the commitment to protecting young people from predators like Moore. Alex Santiago, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, highlighted the importance of public vigilance and using privacy settings online. Moore was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child exploitation crimes.

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