Philip Taylor Sobash, a 35-year-old resident of Austin, Texas, has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and admitted to exploiting six additional minors. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire in Nashville.
“Protecting children from sexual predators is among the highest priorities of our office and the Department of Justice,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Holding Sobash accountable for all of his offenses against all his victims is vitally important to the safety of children in our community and across the country.”
Court documents indicate that between October 2018 and May 2019, Sobash, then working as a physician, maintained an online sexually explicit relationship with a minor residing in Tennessee after meeting her on a website known for facilitating “sugar daddy” relationships. Communication shifted to text messages, during which the minor disclosed she was 17 years old and provided proof through her driver’s license.
Sobash requested sexually explicit images from this individual and gave her thousands of dollars in cash and gifts as inducement. Over seven months, the victim sent hundreds of photos and videos considered child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sobash also acknowledged exploiting six other minors aged 16-17 between 2017 and 2020. Under his direction, these individuals produced CSAM that they sent to him. He further distributed material involving several victims online under their names.
Upon sentencing, Sobash faces at least 15 years in prison but could receive up to 30 years and be fined as much as $250,000. He may also have property forfeited as part of penalties outlined in the indictment.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit is handling the investigation into these activities.
Prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison alongside Trial Attorney Adam Braskich from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at fighting child exploitation using federal, state, and local resources to find offenders who use the Internet for such crimes while identifying and assisting victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
