A Farmington, Michigan man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually exploiting multiple children. United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced the sentencing of Evan Mercer, aged 31, who pleaded guilty to the charges. The case was presided over by United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg.
Mercer engaged with minors online and recorded images of them in explicit positions. His youngest victim was reportedly seven years old when he contacted her in September 2023 and recorded a video of her exposing herself to a web camera. He also solicited nude images from at least two other minors.
The crimes were uncovered after a witness reported discovering videos produced by Mercer to law enforcement authorities. Upon investigation, authorities retrieved evidence from Mercer's electronic devices.
“This defendant solicited multiple children online and exploited their youth, naivete, and vulnerability to create sexual exploitative images of his victims," stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon. He expressed gratitude towards the witness who alerted authorities and praised law enforcement efforts in bringing Mercer to justice.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Detroit Field Office, emphasized the agency's commitment to protecting vulnerable populations: "Evan Mercer's sentencing underscores the FBI's steadfast commitment to seeking justice for victims of child exploitation." Gibson commended both local law enforcement partners and federal agencies for their collaborative efforts in resolving this case.
The investigation was conducted by special agents from the FBI Oakland County Resident Agency with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Diane Princ, Nhan Ho, and Tara Hindelang.
