Virginia Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Exploiting More Than 40 Girls Through Snapchat

Woodbridge, VA. — A Woodbridge, Virginia, man was sentenced Sept. 24 to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting more than 40 girls through Snapchat, the Justice Department announced.

Malachi Morgan Thomas, 24, pleaded guilty April 2 to one count of producing child sexual abuse material and one count of possessing it. According to court documents described by prosecutors, he used a Snapchat account stolen from a minor to coerce approximately 41 girls, ages 12 to 17, into creating explicit material or participating in live video calls.

Prosecutors said Thomas threatened to hack victims’ accounts or harm them and their families. He also claimed to lead a criminal organization, telling the girls they would be safe if they followed his instructions. Authorities said he knew some victims had previously experienced abuse or struggled with mental health issues.

The investigation uncovered recordings of assaults on two victims, according to the Justice Department. Police seized Thomas’ phones during investigations in 2020, and searches revealed additional abusive images and videos. Fairfax County police arrested him that October on state charges involving two minors.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office investigated the federal case. It was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.