A Rockville man who obtained sexually explicit images through internet-based chat applications by posing as an agent for models was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison last week, prosecutors announced.
Stephen McGrath pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity in order to produce child pornography and possession of child pornography in November 2018.
McGrath, 44, also will be on 25 years supervised release at the conclusion of his sentence, and will be required to register as a sex offender, according to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Between June and October 2017, McGrath used chat applications MeetMe and KIK to communicate with six females aged 12 to 16, obtaining sexually explicit images as part of a “modeling evaluation,” according to a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Law enforcement found McGrath through his account information on the chat apps, tracing subscriber details to his internet address. During a search of his residence on Oct. 13, 2017, officers seized McGrath’s cellphone and discovered a password-protected digital storage application containing more than 600 images of child pornography.
Conversations with numerous minor females were found on the phone. McGrath also admitted to distributing some of the images to two male friends of one of the victims.
McGrath faced a maximum of 10 years in prison for the possession charge and life in prison for the enticement charge.
Attorneys for McGrath could not be reached for comment.
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
