Summary
Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, of Virginia, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Thomas pleaded guilty on April 2 to one count of producing CSAM and one count of possessing CSAM. Court documents showed that he used a Snapchat account that he had previously hacked and taken from a minor to target approximately 41 girls between the ages of 12 and 17.
The DOJ said Thomas used threats, coercion, psychological manipulation, hacked accounts, and physical assaults to force victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
Key details of the case
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Malachi Morgan Thomas |
| Age | 24 |
| Location | Virginia |
| Sentence | 40 years in prison |
| Guilty plea | April 2, 2026 |
| Charges | Production and possession of CSAM |
| Victims targeted | Approximately 41 minor girls |
| Victim ages | 12 to 17 |
| Platform involved | Snapchat |
| Investigation | FBI Washington Field Office |
| Case number | 1:25-cr-327 |
| Initiative | Project Safe Childhood |
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Thomas used a hacked Snapchat account to target minors
According to court documents, Thomas used a Snapchat account that he had previously hacked and stolen from a minor.
The DOJ said he used the account to coerce approximately 41 minor girls between the ages of 12 and 17 into sexually explicit conduct.
Thomas directed victims to create and send CSAM and instructed them to engage in sexually explicit conduct during live video calls. He also claimed that he led a criminal organization and told victims they would be safe if they followed his instructions.
Threats and manipulation were used to maintain control
Thomas threatened to hack victims’ accounts or harm them and their family members if they did not comply.
According to the DOJ, he knew that several victims had experienced anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Some had also previously experienced sexual abuse.
In at least one case, Thomas knew that a victim was in foster care. Prosecutors said these circumstances were among the factors involved in his exploitation of the victims.
Investigation uncovered evidence on Thomas’ phones
The investigation uncovered evidence of Thomas’ conduct on electronic devices.
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On June 7, 2020, Thomas traveled to a victim’s home and sexually assaulted the victim. According to the DOJ, Thomas recorded the assault and stored the recording on his Snapchat account.
Police later discovered the video after searching one of Thomas’ phones. The phone had been seized while police were investigating an unrelated altercation.
On July 9, 2020, Thomas traveled to a Virginia shopping mall to meet a victim he had targeted through Snapchat. The victim’s father had learned about Thomas’ actions and went to the mall instead of the victim. Police responded to the incident and seized Thomas’ phone.
Police found additional CSAM during a residential search
Fairfax County Police arrested Thomas on Oct. 1, 2020, on charges involving two minors in Fairfax County.
With assistance from Prince William County Police, investigators searched Thomas’ residence in Woodbridge, Virginia.
According to the DOJ, investigators found a second phone containing dozens of images and videos of CSAM. The evidence also included recordings of sexual assaults involving two victims in Fairfax County.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the federal case.
Thomas sentenced to 40 years in federal prison
Thomas was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children and possession of CSAM.
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Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said Thomas exploited dozens of girls through threats, coercion, and sexual abuse.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos for the Eastern District of Virginia said the sentence reflected the harm caused to the victims.
FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox said the FBI would continue investigating individuals who target minors online and in communities.
Project Safe Childhood
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide DOJ initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The program is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). It coordinates federal, state, and local resources to investigate people who exploit children online, prosecute offenders, and identify and rescue victims.
Trial Attorney Alicia A. Bove of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
Related court documents are available through the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER under Case No. 1:25-cr-327.
To read the original order please visit DOJ (Department of Justice) website