A Roanoke, Virginia, man who pretended to be an Olympic hopeful will spend 28 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a 15-year-old Marquette County girl he met online, according to federal prosecutors. Erich Zeeb, 51, was sentenced last Thursday in federal court after investigators said he posed as an Olympian-in-training to gain the teen's and her parents' trust, then coerced her into sending explicit photos and videos.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey announced the sentence and condemned Zeeb's actions as "depraved and disgusting," saying the case should serve as a blunt reminder of how far online predators can reach into families' lives. Prosecutors say Zeeb groomed the girl, gained her parents' confidence and pressured her into creating sexually explicit material for the purpose of producing visual depictions, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan.
How Investigators Say He Groomed the Family
Investigators say Zeeb first contacted the teen online in 2012, presenting himself as a serious athlete who could help her chase her own Olympic dreams. Local reporting notes that he gradually ingratiated himself with the family, which authorities say gave him ongoing access and allowed the abuse to continue, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
Investigation and Sentence Details
The case drew in multiple law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Michigan State Police and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna Rutkowski prosecuted the case.
U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering imposed the 28-year sentence. Prosecutors also said they received credible reports of similar exploitation involving other girls and young women, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Authorities believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Marquette branch of the U.S. Attorney's Office at 906-226-2500. Earlier coverage of the indictment lists multiple email addresses and online platforms that investigators say Zeeb may have used to communicate with victims, which could help with ongoing inquiries, as reported by Public Radio 90.
Hoodline previously covered the 2024 indictment in June, along with background on the unsealed charges; see our June coverage of the indictment. If you are worried about a child's online contacts, suspected exploitation can be reported to NCMEC's CyberTipline and to local law enforcement. The center also offers resources for families and educators.
