Donald Michael, a 47-year-old resident of Queen Creek, Arizona, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to child pornography. Michael entered his guilty plea before United States District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney, as announced by United States Attorney David Metcalf in Philadelphia.
Michael, who has a history as a baseball coach for minor boys spanning more than two decades, was charged last July. The indictment included one count of conspiracy to manufacture child pornography, one count of conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, one count of distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography, and two counts of receipt of child pornography. Michael admitted guilt to all charges.
The charges stem from an 18-month catfishing scheme in which Michael, along with Andrew Wolf, a former teacher at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), and Kray Strange of Carthage, New York, targeted minor boys. Wolf and Strange have already been convicted and sentenced. The trio created fake online profiles posing as teenage girls, targeting Wolf's students at SCH to obtain sexually explicit images.
When the victims resisted, Michael, Wolf, and Strange resorted to blackmail and extortion. Even after his co-conspirators' arrests, Michael continued the scheme, victimizing minor boys who were Little League World Series players.
Michael is due for sentencing on August 14. He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release, with a potential maximum of 110 years in prison and lifetime supervision. Additionally, he is required to register as a child sex offender at both state and federal levels.
"Donald Michael and his co-conspirators strategized at length about how to 'bait' young boys into taking and sending explicit images of themselves," stated U.S. Attorney Metcalf. "Unmasking these predators is a priority for my office and the FBI, as we work to protect children everywhere from sexual exploitation."
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, commented, "This serves as a reminder how seriously the FBI and our partners take the online victimization of minors. We will continue to work to protect children from abuse and exploitation, and ensure that those who harm them will be held accountable."
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative from the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation. This effort unites various resources to prosecute internet-based child exploitation crimes and identify victims. The FBI conducted the investigation, with prosecution by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Harrell and Michelle Rotella.
