A man from North Liberty, Iowa, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography. Benjamin Paul Egli, 30, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
Court hearings revealed that Egli used Snapchat for video calls in 2023 where he requested another person engage in sexually explicit conduct with a toddler. Egli recorded these interactions and stored them on his phone. Additionally, he possessed other materials depicting child sexual abuse, including images involving animals and sadistic acts.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program coordinates resources at various governmental levels to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about the project can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Egli's sentencing will be scheduled after a presentence report is completed. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing, facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 50 years' imprisonment. Other penalties include a $500,000 fine, $77,200 in special assessments, and potentially life-long supervised release post-imprisonment.
Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake is prosecuting the case which was investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.