According to his plea, Smith admitted that he created nine online dating profiles with the names “Sammy” and “Shaw.” From April 2020 through October 2020, he communicated with an undercover FBI agent posing as a minor and requested nude images from the undercover agent on multiple occasions. He also sent explicit photos to the agent, the release stated.
In one instance, when the undercover agent refused to send explicit photos, Smith told the agent, “I know that you don’t want to send me those pictures but I was hoping that you would understand just how much it would mean to me and how close it would bring us,” according to the release.
Court documents show that Smith discussed meeting with the undercover agent to engage in sexually explicit conduct and sent the officer $75 via Cash App to buy a one-way bus ticket to Ohio.
Smith also messaged more than 170 other online users who identified themselves as minors. He received sexually explicit images from at least 21 of them and sent nude images of himself to at least 70 users, the release said.
Smith was convicted in 1994 in Athens County on one count of rape of a child, and as a result is required to register as a sex offender.
He remains in the Montgomery County Jail, where he has been held since Oct. 9, jail records show.
DeVillers and Special Agent Chris Hoffman of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division announced the plea entered into Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Laura I. Clemmens and Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter are representing the U.S. in this case.
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