HILLSVILLE MAN SENTENCED — 156 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION THROUGH DISCORD

A federal sentencing in the Western District of Virginia has concluded in a child exploitation case involving grooming, coercion, and the purchase of explicit illegal material from multiple underage victims.

Michael Tibbs, 25, of Carroll County, Virginia, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

The case began in April 2023, when a 15-year-old victim reported to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center that she had been groomed for approximately one year and repeatedly pressured to send explicit images. FBI agents identified Tibbs and secured Discord records confirming communication with multiple minor victims.

Evidence established that beginning in November 2022, Tibbs engaged in sexually explicit conversations with underage girls and paid them to produce and send explicit images and videos. Investigators confirmed that multiple victims were targeted, with payments used as leverage to sustain ongoing exploitation.

On July 18, 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Tibbs’ residence. His phone was seized and found to contain a large volume of explicit material, including content involving individuals later identified as minors. Among the recovered files were videos depicting a 13-year-old victim.

The device also contained hundreds of computer-generated and animated depictions of exploitative abuse involving children, including very young victims, indicating a sustained pattern of consumption and escalation beyond direct victim contact.

Agents conducted an interview with Tibbs following the search. He admitted to using Discord to locate, communicate with, and purchase explicit content from minors. He estimated that he had engaged with approximately 10 to 15 underage girls. He further stated that his behavior developed after exposure to illicit material encountered on social media platforms, which he used to identify and pursue potential victims.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecutorial responsibility assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman. The sentencing was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and the FBI’s Richmond Division.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative established to combat the exploitation and abuse of children. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify offenders, disrupt exploitation networks, and prioritize the identification and recovery of victims.

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