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Serial Child Predator Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
MINNEAPOLIS – In a devastating blow to a notorious child predator, Samuel Eric Snell, 46, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release for Production of Child Pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
Snell, who used the gaming platform Discord to target his victims, repeatedly solicited and received more than 400 images of nude photos of minor girls. The predator posed as a man in his early 20s, leveraging this fake identity to approach children as young as 12 years old and manipulating them into producing graphic child pornography.
The government argued at sentencing that Snell selected his victims for their vulnerabilities, taking advantage of their youth, naivete, and difficult life circumstances to feed his own twisted sexual desires. This was not a single mistake, nor was it a simple offense; it involved years of manipulation, thousands and thousands of messages, and affected over ten different children across multiple states.
Snell was sentenced in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim, who noted, “This is a long sentence, but it is justified” primarily because Snell’s many victims would suffer traumatic effects of his crimes “probably for the rest of their lives.”
“Samuel Snell is a classic child predator, and today he received an appropriately harsh sentence,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Snell targeted vulnerable children, including those who had existing mental health concerns. He callously groomed and manipulated at least 10 children with total disregard for their wellbeing. The FBI will work tirelessly to identify and arrest anyone who preys on innocent children.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Inver Grove Heights Police and Woodbury Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C. Weir prosecuted the case.
The harsh sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who work day and night to protect children from predators like Snell.
The sentencing of Samuel Eric Snell serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child exploitation and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.
The community can take comfort in knowing that the FBI and its partners will continue to work together to identify and bring to justice those who prey on innocent children.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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