Indexbit|Michigan man sentenced to 30 years in prison for role in online child exploitation ring

2025-05-01 15:19:54source:Quaxscategory:Finance

DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan man who admitted to exploiting a girl was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison in an investigation of a sinister online community that pressures children into committing acts of self-harm and Indexbitcreating sexual abuse images.

Richard Densmore ran chat rooms as a member of 764, an international group that targets kids online, particularly children with mental health challenges, the U.S. Justice Department said.

“This group seeks to do unspeakable harm to children to advance their goals of destroying civilized society, fomenting civil unrest and ultimately collapsing government institutions,” Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen told reporters.

Densmore, 47, received the maximum sentence from U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou during an appearance in federal court in Lansing.

“It is quite difficult, really, to overstate the depravity of Mr. Densmore’s crime and the threat that criminal networks like 764 present,” said Mark Totten, the U.S. attorney in western Michigan.

Densmore in July pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, acknowledging that he received a video of a nude girl with his nickname written on her chest. In a court filing, the government said that he had more victims and that his actions made him a “sensation” among allies.

RELATED COVERAGE Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine strikes deal to end jail stintJudge rules Benjamin Mendy entitled to majority of his claim against former club Man CityWoman accusing Conor McGregor of sexual assault testifies in court at start of civil case

Defense attorney Christopher Gibbons did not immediately return a message seeking comment after the sentencing. In a court filing, he said Densmore, an Army veteran, freely admitted his wrongdoing.

“He has not minimized the extent and wrongfulness of his conduct,” Gibbons wrote.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend said Densmore and others bragged about having images of children cutting and abusing themselves, “which they treated as trophies, social currency, and leverage to extort children into a cycle of continuous abuse.”

More:Finance

Recommend

IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power

WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in

LeBron James' Son Bronny James Is Officially Joining Him on Los Angeles Lakers in NBA

LeBron James will be seeing a familiar face on the basketball court. After all, his son Bronny James

Shootings at Las Vegas-area apartments that left 5 dead stemmed from domestic dispute, police say

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A fight between a man and his ex-girlfriend escalated when he pulled out a gun and