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A 30-year-old man from Peoria Heights, Illinois pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbus, Ohio to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and traveling interstate with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Immanuel D. Nellum admitted to meeting a 12-year-old victim on an online app, engaging in an online relationship, and exchanging nude images and videos before traveling to Zanesville, Ohio to engage in sex acts with the minor in August 2025.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing problem of online predators targeting and exploiting minors, as well as the importance of law enforcement and the justice system taking strong action to protect vulnerable children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The details
According to court documents, Nellum met the victim on the online app ‘Friend’ when she was 12 years old. Between August 2023 and 2025, Nellum and the victim engaged in an online relationship and exchanged nude images and videos of themselves. Nellum’s phone contained more than 141,000 messages between him and the victim, including around 5,500 attachments. Nellum admitted to traveling from Illinois to Zanesville, Ohio to engage in sex acts with the minor, and was found at a Zanesville hotel with the victim in August 2025 before being arrested.
- Between August 2023 and 2025, Nellum and the victim engaged in an online relationship and exchanged nude images and videos.
- In August 2025, Nellum traveled from Illinois to Zanesville, Ohio to engage in sex acts with the minor and was found at a Zanesville hotel with the victim before being arrested.
The players
Immanuel D. Nellum
A 30-year-old man from Peoria Heights, Illinois who pleaded guilty to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and traveling interstate with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
The Victim
A 12-year-old girl who Nellum met on the online app ‘Friend’ and engaged in an online relationship with, exchanging nude images and videos, before Nellum traveled to Ohio to engage in sex acts with her.
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What’s next
Nellum is set to be sentenced at a future date.
The takeaway
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers children face online and the critical need for parents, educators, and law enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting minors from sexual predators who seek to exploit them through digital platforms.
