Missouri Man Sentenced for Advertising Child Pornography on the Dark Web

PORTLAND, Maine: A Missouri man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for advertising child pornography on the dark web.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Larry Stendebach, 60, to 17.5 years (210 months) in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Stendebach pleaded guilty on April 27, 2025.

According to court records, in May 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Stendebach, that had a history of postings dating back to December 2022. Agents observed the profile had made over 1,000 posts on the site. Agents reviewed several links posted by Stendebach that contained videos of child sexual abuse material including young children. In August 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Stendebach's residence in Hannibal, Missouri. During a subsequent interview, Stendebach admitted he had used the profile on the dark web.

HSI investigated the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material - referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" - captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims' exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Department's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.

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