A Kansas man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for impersonating a young girl and convincing numerous youths to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos of themselves.
Jeffrey D. Pierce, 42, of Topeka, was a former teacher and basketball coach at Seaman High School, according to a Sept. 22 news release. He used the guise of a young female to entice male minors to send the explicit material.
“Soliciting the production of child sexual abuse material is a particularly disturbing crime, made even more egregious when committed by someone entrusted to teach and coach our children," Attorney General Kenneth Polite said in the release. "Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to stand up for victims and to hold offenders accountable for their conduct.”
FBI agents also commented on the matter, according to the release.
“Pierce, an educator and coach, used deception, manipulation and threats to exploit the most vulnerable victims and those he was entrusted to protect, our children," Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub said in the release. "The investigation into his actions and today’s sentencing demonstrate the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to seek justice for our most innocent victims and those who are unable to defend themselves.”
Further, the defendant was also given a five-year term of supervised release in addition to a special assessment payment requirement of $55,100, the release reported. More than 80 minors who were victims of Pierce have so far been identified by the FBI. By exchanging sexually explicit images of other minors and threatening to share those images with others, Pierce coerced at least one minor into sending him more explicit material.
He also encouraged another minor to have in-person sex with him while still pretending to be a minor female, according to Pierce's online communications with these victims.
