A Kent, Washington man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for advertising child sexual abuse material on the dark web. The U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine, sentenced Michael Posey, 50, to 180 months in prison, followed by seven years of supervised release. Posey pleaded guilty to the charge on August 29, 2024, according to a Jan. 22 press release by the United State’s Attorney’s Office District of Maine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker noted the far-reaching consequences of Posey’s actions, stating that communities like the one Posey participated in “create a supply chain to satisfy the demand for this poison” and cause “generational emotional destruction on vulnerable members of our communities.” The impact on the young victims, he noted, is immeasurable and long-lasting.
Court records show that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Portland, Maine, launched an investigation into a dark web site dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children in early 2024. Agents discovered a profile, later linked to Posey, which held a moderator position on the site and was responsible for approving posts. Posey’s profile provided a password granting access to files and links he shared, including a collection of 70 videos of child sexual abuse. A review of the profile’s history traced postings back to December 2021. In April 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s Kent, Washington residence. During questioning, Posey admitted to using the dark web profile and provided his login credentials.
HSI led the investigation, with U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee emphasizing the profound harm caused by child sexual abuse material. “Mr. Posey helped to create and benefited from a marketplace predicated on vulnerable victims being abused,” McElwee said. “Peddling child pornography is not a victimless crime. Every time these materials are shared, children are revictimized.”
Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for HSI in New England reinforced the seriousness of Posey’s crimes. “Posey used the dark web to advertise abhorrent images capturing the sexual abuse of children who were irreparably harmed in the productions. Now he will remain in prison for a considerable period of time where he cannot be a threat to the public,” Krol stated. “Today’s sentence shows the gravity of Posey’s crime and HSI’s commitment to seeking justice for children traumatized by online child sexual exploitation.”
Individuals can report incidents of child sexual abuse material, legally referred to as “child pornography,” through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678. Those in Maine who have experienced sexual assault or abuse can seek confidential help through the state’s 24-hour sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the program leverages federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and rescue victims.
