Linwood Barnhill, a 59-year-old registered sex offender residing in the District of Columbia, was apprehended on May 1, 2025. He faces federal charges for sex trafficking children by force and other related offenses that allegedly took place from April 1, 2024, to April 29, 2025.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., alongside FBI Special Agent in Chief Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Barnhill, previously an officer with the MPD, is accused of several crimes including sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of children; coercion and enticement; transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and interstate travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises. The complaint alleges that Barnhill recruited minors for commercial sex acts from which he profited financially.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. Launched in February 2006 by the Attorney General, this nationwide effort aims to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. It coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet while also identifying and rescuing victims. Further information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.