A Lorain County man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for using Snapchat to lure underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images by pretending to run a modeling agency.
Joshua R. Glover, 36, of Elyria, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster after pleading guilty earlier this year. His charges included the receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material and possession of child pornography. After his prison term, Glover will also serve 10 years of supervised release and must pay $2,000 in assessments that support victims.
Investigation Found Hundreds of Victims Contacted
According to court documents, Glover used Snapchat from January 2022 through January 2024 to contact hundreds of underage girls: many between 12 and 15 years old — across the United States. He pretended to own a modeling agency and asked victims for photos and videos in exchange for joining or being paid for modeling work.
Investigators found that Glover sent repeated requests for explicit images and directed minors to perform sexual acts. Some victims were pressured for years. In total, he exchanged more than 180,000 messages with minors.
A search of his devices revealed about 100 files of child sexual abuse material, and Glover admitted to receiving images from more than 90 different minors.
Federal Officials Say Sentence Ends Long Pattern of Abuse
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer said the sentence brings an end to Glover’s manipulation of underage girls, calling his actions heinous and harmful. FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen said the case shows how federal, state, and local agencies work together to remove predators from the community. He said the FBI will continue to use its resources to find offenders and bring justice to victims.
The investigation was handled by the FBI Cleveland Division as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national effort to stop the online exploitation of children.
Reporting Child Exploitation
Anyone who suspects child exploitation can file a report at cybertipline.org or call 1-800-843-5678, available 24 hours a day.