A Missouri man, Andrew Haller, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk for engaging in sexual activity with a minor and other related offenses. The 34-year-old met two 15-year-old girls on Tumblr before moving their conversations to the encrypted app Telegram.
The case came to light when a 15-year-old victim from California reported to the FBI in October 2023 that Haller was abusing another teenager. She revealed that Haller had imposed strict rules on her and the other victim, including asking for permission to urinate and referring to him as “Sir,” “Dad,” or “Daddy.” He also requested nude photos from her and sent her images of the other victim.
Following an investigation and a court-approved search of Haller's home in November 2023, the FBI identified another victim who confirmed meeting Haller twice in person during which they engaged in sexual activities. According to his plea, Haller struck her during their first encounter and took explicit photos and videos. He also expressed a desire to abuse children too young to remember the abuse.
In a letter submitted to the court, the second victim described how Haller gained her trust by claiming he suffered from mental illness similar to hers before he began controlling her actions. She recounted how he made demands such as carving his initial into her thigh.
Haller possessed numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse material, which he distributed via Telegram and Signal, according to his plea agreement. He pleaded guilty in October to multiple charges including coercion and enticement of a minor, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography.
The case was investigated by the FBI with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes prosecuting. It was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through collaboration among federal, state, and local resources.