A Fort Campbell soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday in a disturbing child exploitation case after prosecutors said he posed as a young man on Snapchat to coax explicit images from teenage girls in multiple states. Robert Cecilio, 40, of Clarksville entered his plea on July 8 and is set to be sentenced Oct. 21 in federal court.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, Cecilio admitted to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The office said the plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger, and prosecutors plan to seek a sentence that could put him in federal prison for decades.
How prosecutors say he operated
As reported by NewsChannel 5, investigators say Cecilio used Snapchat accounts with variations of the name “Gabe,” at times pretending to be 19 or 20 years old, to pressure girls into creating and sending sexually explicit photos and videos. Authorities identified five victims between the ages of 13 and 18 living in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and executed search warrants that turned up multiple cell phones and other electronic devices.
What officials said
U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek said in the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, “Cecilio hid behind a fake name and a screen to prey on young girls across the country. But anonymity on the internet is no shield from accountability.” Officials with the FBI and Army CID likewise praised the coordinated investigation that tracked down victims and preserved digital evidence for prosecution.
Penalties and next steps
Prosecutors say Cecilio faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison on each sexual exploitation count, on top of potential additional time for the receipt and possession charges. As NewsChannel 5 notes, the plea agreement also requires Cecilio to register as a sex offender, forfeit four cell phones used in the crimes, and pay restitution to the victims.
Local reporting and context
Hoodline covered the initial August arrest when a criminal complaint was unsealed; Fort Campbell Soldier Charged detailed the early allegations and explained how the case fit into Project Safe Childhood. Local outlets, including Clarksville Now have since followed up with coverage of investigators’ findings and the victims identified in court filings.
The FBI’s Nashville Field Office and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation, and local reporting notes that Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Nashville page lists contact information for tips and assistance: anyone with information or concerns about possible victimization can call (615) 232-7500 or file a report at tips.fbi.gov.
