Man Who Posed As Modeling Agent Jailed 22 Years For Child Porn

ROCKVILLE, MD — A Rockville man who posed as a female modeling agent to get sexually explicit images from underage girls has been sentenced on federal child pornography charges, prosecutors said.

Stephen McGrath, 44, was sentenced to 22 years in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for federal charges of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity in order to produce child pornography, and possession of child pornography. As a result of his conviction, the Rockville resident must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student.

According to his plea agreement — from June 16 to Oct. 9, 2017 — McGrath would communicate with six girls between the ages of 12 and 16 through MeetMe and KIK, two internet-based messaging applications. Posing as a female modeling agent, McGrath confirmed the girls' ages and asked them to send sexually explicit photographs as part of their "modeling evaluation," prosecutors said.

McGrath later admitted to distributing sexually explicit images from one of the girls to two of her male friends. Prosecutors say the victim had given McGrath their account information.

On Oct. 13, 2017, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant of McGrath's home and seized his cellphone. Officers said they found more than 600 images of child pornography, including photos of the victims, on the device. The KIK application was also found on the phone, as well as numerous conversations with underage girls.