Erik Lee Madison, an online extremist from Baltimore County, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison this month after using the multiplayer game Roblox to coerce at least 10 young girls into performing violent and sexual acts against themselves.
“Mr. Madison is a child predator who committed heinous acts. As a result, he is going to jail for a long time,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland. “This sentence sends a clear message to Madison, and others who abuse and terrorize the most vulnerable members of our community: we will find you, prosecute you, and bring you to justice.”
A 21-year-old from Halethorpe, Madison pleaded guilty to child sexual exploitation and cyberstalking charges in March. Federal prosecutors sought a 35-year punishment against him, citing his “reprehensible” conduct in “764,” one of the “vilest groups on the darkest corner of the internet,” as well and “complete lack of remorse.”
According to a 45-page sentencing memorandum, as a member of the extremist group, Madison convinced several girls to harm themselves and cut “signs” into their bodies. Using recordings of the act, he then blackmailed the minors into harming their family members and pets, and recording sexual content.
To start their argument for a 35-year sentence, federal prosecutors listed several disturbing messages written by Madison and taken by the government.
“My love for it is the feeling of absolutely power / The feeling of taking someone’s will to fight back away,” one of the quotes read.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox ultimately sentenced Madison to 30 years in prison on June 16, followed by a lifelong term of supervised probation.
Jimmy Paul, an FBI Baltimore agent in charge of the case, condemned Madison in a statement after the sentencing hearing.
“Victimizing our most vulnerable members of society [is] unacceptable,” he said.
Madison’s defense attorneys, two federal public defenders, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
FBI agents raided Madison’s home in Baltimore County last November after investigating roughly a years’ worth of misconduct with girls he met through Roblox.
According to an unsealed affidavit, Madison offered in-game rewards to players to share explicit content, while threatening to release the videos or send the police to their homes if they refused.
Investigators said Madison and other members of 764 also encouraged young people to attempt suicide. In one case, prosecutors say Madison boasted because “he believed one of the girls in [a] video had committed suicide.” Authorities said the defendant referenced another minor, a teenage boy, who died by suicide, as well.
In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors implored the government to recognize the “extensive impact on the victims and their families” and take advantage of its opportunities to deter other members of the group.
“The Court should send a strong message to this growing network of extremists that there will be severe consequences for terrorizing children,” they said.
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