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West Michigan man convicted of sexually exploiting a child

Online Niel November 8, 2024

A west Michigan man convicted of sexually exploiting a girl in an online child pornography ring faces up to 30 years in federal prison, officials said.

Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, 47, of Kaleva, was sentenced by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division in Grand Rapids, Mark Totten, U.S. Attorney for Western District of Michigan. .

“This case represents a new and depraved threat to our children and our communities: violent online extremists who manipulate their minor victims into self-harm and sexually explicit images,” Totten said in a statement. . “While we will always fight to bring criminals like Richard Densmore to justice, we want to prevent this crime as much as possible. Parents: Please talk to your children about this threat; monitor their social media usage and let them know they can come anytime. to you if it messes up.”

Densmore’s attorney was not immediately available for comment Friday.

However, his attorney, Christopher Gibbons, said in an Oct. 24 sentencing memo that his client “freely admitted his wrongdoing in this case” and “did not minimize the extent and illegality of his conduct”.

Gibbons’ note also said Densmore had struggled with mental illness, anxiety and depression throughout his life. He also noted that his client’s problems worsened after his ex-wife died of cancer.

Authorities said the defendant is a member of 764, a network of violent extremists that seeks to normalize the production, sharing and possession of child pornography and gore material to desensitize and corrupt young people into future acts of violence.

A big federal the jury indicted Densmore in February on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography.

They said Densmore used the online pseudonym “Rabid” to create a chat room that streamed minors self-harming, such as writing or cutting skin, and sexually explicit behavior. Officials said he solicited and encouraged minors to do the acts.

In one case, Densmore admitted to paying another user of his chat cryptocurrency in September 2022 to get an underage girl to send him a topless photo with the word “Rabid” written on it, they said the prosecutors.

After the girl expressed her reservations, he contacted another user with whom he had an online relationship and asked him to get her to submit a nude photo with “Rabid” written on her chest, according to federal agents. Densmore told them he also paid the second user with cryptocurrency.

Investigators said the girl sent Densmore and the other user a video of herself naked with the word written on her chest.

“Richard Densmore will spend the next 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child and for his role in creating 764 online networks that coerced children into self-harm, explicit sexual acts and violence,” Attorney General Merrick Garland. said in a statement. “No child should have to go through this atrocious abuse. The Department of Justice will ensure that the criminals involved in this depraved conduct are held accountable in court.”

In July, he agreed to plead guilty to sexually exploiting a child, according to court records. The offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

“Today’s sentencing of Richard Densmore, who sexually exploited and victimized children, reaffirms the FBI’s strong commitment to bring to justice those who harm our young people,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Michigan , in a statement. “This case is a stark reminder that there are serious consequences for those who prey on children.”

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@CharlesERamirez