A man from Warm Springs, Oregon, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for coercing and exploiting a 15-year-old minor using online platforms.
Leonard Polk, 25, received a sentence of 135 months in federal prison and will be subject to 10 years of supervised release.
Court documents show that in December 2024, Polk met the minor through Snapchat. He used both Snapchat and Facebook Messenger to persuade the victim to send sexually explicit images. Polk later picked up the minor and took her to his home on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where he sexually abused her multiple times.
Polk was arrested in Washington on January 21, 2025, after the FBI received information that he had transported the minor from Oregon to Washington. The minor was rescued at that time.
“Protecting children remains our highest priority. This case serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers that exist on social media and the predators who use these platforms to exploit our youth,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Let there be no doubt: if you target children in our community, we will use every resource at our disposal to protect them and ensure you are held fully accountable.”
A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Polk on February 11, 2025, on two counts: sexual abuse of a minor and sexual abuse – incapable victim. On July 14, 2025, Polk pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.
The investigation was led by the FBI Portland’s Bend Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley prosecuted the case.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about child exploitation to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law classifies child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Such material documents actual crimes against children and can cause repeated trauma when shared online. Additional information is available from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to investigate and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More details can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
