A Virginia man who posed as a virtual bodybuilding coach to sexually exploit minors has been sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison.
Elliott Atwell, 35, of Charlottesville, pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. Yesterday, he was sentenced to 254 months in prison.
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“This defendant targeted young people who put their trust in him as a coach and mentor and violated that trust to satisfy his own desires,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “I am grateful to the men and women of the FBI who tirelessly investigated this case and brought some semblance of justice to the victims. Cases like these remind us how vulnerable our young people are and how vigilant we must be to protect them from manipulative online predators.”
“FBI Richmond is unwavering in its commitment to seeking justice for victims of child exploitation. Today’s guilty verdict is the culmination of years of relentless work and dedication by our agents and analysts,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Division said today. “Together with our partners, the FBI will continue protecting our children by removing harmful predators from our communities.”
According to court documents, Atwell’s crimes spanned six years, from December 2013 to April 2020. He used his position as a virtual bodybuilding coach to gain access to and manipulate minors online.
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Atwell’s tactics included:
- Gaining Trust: He approached aspiring high school bodybuilders online, offering mentorship and training advice.
- Sexualizing Conversations: He quickly transitioned conversations to sexually explicit topics.
- Exploiting for Images and Videos: He encouraged minors to send him nude photos and videos, often under the guise of “coaching.”
- Manipulating with Gifts: He sent victims gifts, including a digital camera and sexual items, to gain their trust and compliance.
- Providing Explicit Instructions: He gave detailed instructions on the sexual acts he wanted the minors to perform and record.
The FBI discovered over 300 images and videos of child pornography in Atwell’s iCloud account, including images of prepubescent boys engaged in sex acts.
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