Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Leonard Samiia, 32, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to production of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about February 20, 2023, Samiia employed, used, persuaded, induced, and enticed a minor victim residing within the Southern District of West Virginia to send images of her nude vagina to him through the internet using an instant messaging service. Samiia admitted that that minor victim stated that she was not 18 yet. Samiia also sent the images back to the minor victim using the messaging service.

Samiia admitted that he sent a series of messages to the minor victim, directing her to make specific poses and take specific actions for these images. Samiia further admitted that he threatened the minor victim with the images she sent him, including by messaging her "(h)ave fun with these pics being posted now," "being posted all over Facebook google snapchat twitch and everywhere," and "THEY WILL BE POSTED ON YOUR SCHOOL WEBSITE TOO." In one message, Samiia threatened to travel to where the minor victim lived and physically harm her and others.

Samiia is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Samiia also owes restitution, in an amount to be determined by the Court, and must register as a sex offender.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson is prosecuting the case.

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 Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-18.

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