Todd Noble: 25 Years for Exploiting Children Online

CHICAGO – Todd Noble, 51, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, will spend the next 25 years in federal prison after being sentenced Thursday for producing sexually explicit images of children he met online. The case, a chilling example of online predation, revealed a calculated scheme to exploit vulnerable minors.

Between 2014 and 2015, Noble systematically groomed three minor girls, persuading them through online conversations to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos. These images, some depicting the victims’ private areas, were obtained after Noble coaxed the girls into creating the content themselves. He then received the images via text message and online messaging services, building a disturbing collection of child pornography.

The scheme unraveled in April 2015 when the parents of one of Noble’s victims, an eleven-year-old girl from Evanston, Illinois, discovered the images on her iPhone. This discovery triggered a swift investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, leading to Noble’s arrest and, ultimately, his guilty plea to one count of production of child pornography.

During sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney April M. Perry delivered a scathing indictment of Noble’s actions, stating, “Defendant preyed upon the most innocent and vulnerable of victims – children. Defendant invaded the sanctity of these girls’ homes, victimizing them when they were just yards away from their parents who believed that that their daughters were safe.” Court records reveal Noble’s manipulation was particularly insidious. When the Evanston victim expressed hesitation, telling Noble she was “not so sure” and had “never done it before,” he responded with explicit instructions on how to make the images more sexually explicit.

Noble’s depravity extended beyond Illinois. He admitted to engaging in similar conduct with minor girls in Texas and Oklahoma, falsely presenting himself as a teenager to gain their trust. He even sent the Oklahoma victim a photograph seemingly depicting a teenage boy, further solidifying his deceptive persona. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, led by Zachary T. Fardon, and the FBI’s Chicago Office, headed by Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Anderson, jointly announced the sentencing, vowing to continue pursuing those who exploit children online.

U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood imposed the 25-year sentence, a stark message to potential predators. This case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking online and the importance of vigilance in protecting children from exploitation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney April M. Perry.