A complaint was unsealed in U.S. District Court on Apr. 7 charging Zabdiel Aaron Rothschild, 26, of the District of Columbia, with production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about online exploitation and abuse involving minors. Authorities allege that Rothschild used the Discord gaming and messaging application beginning in January 2025 to communicate with three minor victims.
According to court documents, Rothschild asked for and received sexually explicit videos from the minors. In one instance described by investigators, he instructed a 13-year-old victim to record herself engaging in specific sexual acts at his direction. The complaint also alleges that Rothschild openly discussed age differences during these communications and described numerous sexual and violent acts he intended for his victims.
Rothschild is quoted as telling one victim: “little teens belong to old men like me” and “it’s normal for kids to have a crush on older people.” In other conversations cited in court documents, he said: “I have the lifelong fantasy of carving my initials into a girl,” as well as “I can’t wait to choke you and use your unconscious body.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox from the Washington Field Office and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran from the San Antonio Field Office joined Pirro in announcing the charges. The investigation involves FBI field offices from San Antonio, Washington, and San Francisco.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kelley under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched nationwide in February 2006 aimed at protecting children from online exploitation.
Authorities remind that charges contained within a complaint are allegations only; every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
