Matthew I Reif, Child Sex Exploitation, Ohio 2022
A Licking County man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the sexual exploitation of at least 52 minor boys, some of whom he had access to through his role in a local church youth group.
Matthew I Reif, 27, of Newark, Ohio, victimized the boys through the mobile application Snapchat between October 2020 and July 2022.
According to court documents, Reif offered gifts and money to the minor boys in exchange for engaging in sex acts with him or sending him child pornography. He used text messaging and Snapchat to communicate with his victims, some of whom he only knew online and had not met in person.
The defendant would pose as a female named 'Nicole' via Snapchat to obtain child sexual abuse material from the minor males. Twelve of the identified victims in this case indicated they sent photos or videos to Reif on Snapchat when they were between 14 and 17 years old, believing Reif to be a female.
Reif also contacted minor males he knew from the community, posing as himself and garnering their trust through his position in the church. He would then screen record any pornographic content he received from the minors via Snapchat.
The defendant was trusted with some of the victims on overnight stays, during which he surreptitiously recorded the victims with a hidden camera that he placed in different bathrooms. Reif saved the images and videos he created and obtained and then organized the content by the name of the male minor depicted.
Reif pleaded guilty in December 2022 to sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Reif will serve 25 years in prison for his crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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