Serial Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

MINNEAPOLIS - Samuel Eric Snell, 46, was sentenced today to 240 months imprisonment followed by 10 years' supervised release for Production of Child Pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

"There is nothing more despicable than repeatedly abusing children," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "We are seeing too many cases like this in Minnesota and every single one of them is unacceptable. Children in Minnesota deserve our protection and those who exploit them will face severe federal consequences."

Snell for years was a user of gaming platform Discord. On this platform, Snell repeatedly solicited and received more than 400 images of nude photos of minor girls. Snell-at the time a 43-year-old man-posed as a man in his early 20s. He used this fake identity to approach a multitude of children as young as 12 years old. Snell victimized at least ten children using his lies, coercing and manipulating the victims to produce graphic child pornography. Snell also met with minors in person on multiple occasions.

As the government argued at sentencing, Snell selected his victims for their vulnerabilities. He took advantage of their youth, naivete, and difficult life circumstances to feed his own craven and twisted sexual desires. This was not a single mistake, nor was it a simple offense. It involved years of manipulation, thousands and thousands of messages, and affected over ten different children across multiple states. Snell abused and manipulated child after child and would still be doing so had he not been caught.

Snell was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim. In handing down the sentence Judge Tunheim noted, "This is a long sentence, but it is justified" primarily because Snell's many victims would suffer traumatic effects of his crimes "probably for the rest of their lives."

"Samuel Snell is a classic child predator, and today he received an appropriately harsh sentence," said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. "Snell targeted vulnerable children, including those who had existing mental health concerns. He callously groomed and manipulated at least 10 children with total disregard for their wellbeing. The FBI will work tirelessly to identify and arrest anyone who preys on innocent children."

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Inver Grove Heights Police and Woodbury Police Departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C. Weir prosecuted the case.