United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of BARTON GEORGE SCOTT, 36, a registered sex offender, to 25 years in prison for producing child pornography. SCOTT, who pleaded guilty on February 6, 2019, was sentenced today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.

United States Attorney Erica MacDonald said, “Mr. Scott is a convicted sex offender and a sextortionist. He terrorized his victims by hacking into their Snapchat accounts to access highly sensitive and private pictures. He then taunted his victims and threatened to disseminate their private pictures if they didn’t comply with his demands. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that sextortion is a serious crime that will be met with serious consequences.” 

“A case like this really underscores the FBI’s proactive approach to identifying people who exploit children with pornography,” said Jill Sanborn, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Division. “Our agents are vigilant and continue their active role to ensure that children are protected and that sexual predators are removed from children’s lives.”

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between April 30 and August 8, 2017, SCOTT gained unauthorized access to the Snapchat accounts of dozens of victims, including minors between 14-16 years of age. In several cases, SCOTT used threats and extortionate tactics in an attempt to obtain sexually explicit images and videos from the victims.

Based on the evidence obtained in this case, authorities believe there may be additional victims of this alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI at (763) 569-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the New Richmond Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, the Stillwater Police Department, the Spring Green Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine T. Buzicky prosecuted the case.

 

Defendant Information:

BARTON GEORGE SCOTT, 36

City of residence unknown

Convicted:

Production of child pornography, 1 count

Penalties for registered sex offenders, 1 count

Sentenced:

300 months in prison

Lifetime of supervised release

 

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of BARTON GEORGE SCOTT, 35, a registered sex offender, for producing child pornography. SCOTT, who was indicted on September 12, 2018, entered his guilty plea earlier today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between April 30 and August 8, 2017, SCOTT gained unauthorized access to the Snapchat accounts of dozens of victims, including minors between 14-16 years of age. In several cases, SCOTT used threats and extortionate tactics in an attempt to obtain sexually explicit images and videos from the victims.

Based on the evidence obtained in this case, authorities believe there may be additional victims of this alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI at (763) 569-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the New Richmond Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, the Stillwater Police Department, the Spring Green Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine T. Buzicky is prosecuting the case.

 

Defendant Information:

BARTON GEORGE SCOTT, 35

City of residence unknown

Convicted:

Production of child pornography, 1 count

Penalties for registered sex offenders, 1 count

 

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging BARTON GEORGE SCOTT, 35, with child pornography and computer hacking offenses. SCOTT made his initial appearance on September 25, 2018, before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As alleged in the indictment, between April 30 and August 8, 2017, SCOTT gained unauthorized access to the Snapchat accounts of 25 victims. In several cases, SCOTT used extortionate tactics in an attempt to obtain sexually explicit images and videos from the victims, many of whom were minors.

Based on the evidence obtained in this case, authorities believe there may be additional victims of this alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI at (763) 569-8000. Callers may remain anonymous.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, the Stillwater Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, New Richmond Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine T. Buzicky is prosecuting the case.

 

Defendant Information:

BARTON GEORGE SCOTT, 35

City of residence unknown

Charges:

Production of child pornography, 1 count

Penalties for registered sex offenders, 1 count

Attempted production of child pornography, 6 counts

Fraud and related activity in connection with computers 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(7)(B), 6 counts

Fraud and related activity in connection with computers 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2)(C), 12 counts

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 

 



The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.