Introduction to the Case
AURORA, Ill. — An Aurora man will spend more than 30 years in federal prison for coercing young girls into sending him nude photos under the threat of violence. Richard Barnett, a 46-year-old Aurora resident, has been sentenced to 34 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting several victims using the now-defunct social media app "Musical.ly," Andrew Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced Thursday.
Background of the Case
According to prosecutors, Barnett, who pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges earlier this year, has been in custody since his arrest in 2017, when the case against him first began.
Prosecutors said Barnett would pose as a 12 or 13-year-old while using the Musical.ly app to contact his victims, requesting, and sometimes even demanding, that they send him sexually explicit photos. Musical.ly was a video-sharing social media application that later turned into TikTok in 2018.
Method of Exploitation
While communicating with the victims, who were mostly between 9 and 13 years of age, prosecutors said Barnett would threaten some of them with physical harm if they did not comply with his demands. During one case, Barnett told one of his victims that he would kidnap, assault, and murder her if she did not comply.
Sentencing and Charges
Richard Barnett, a 46-year-old Aurora resident, pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges in 2025 and was later sentenced to 34 years in federal prison. “Barnett remorselessly used these girls as objects to be employed in furtherance of his sexual gratification, inflicting trauma that will forever impact his victims’ lives,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Chapman argued in the government’s sentencing recommendation. "He threatened his victims, humiliated them, degraded them, and viciously attacked any sense of self-esteem or confidence that stood in his way.”
Conclusion of the Case
Barnett’s sentence was handed down by Judge John Robert Blakey on Tuesday, who also ordered that the sentence be followed by a lifetime of court-supervised release. Anyone who believes they are a victim of sexual exploitation is encouraged to alert the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
Conclusion
The case of Richard Barnett serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk on social media platforms and the importance of vigilance and education in preventing such crimes. It also highlights the severity of the consequences for those who engage in such heinous activities, with Barnett facing a significant prison sentence for his crimes.
FAQs
Q: What was the social media app used by Richard Barnett to exploit his victims?
A: The social media app used by Richard Barnett was Musical.ly, which later became TikTok in 2018.
Q: How old were the victims of Richard Barnett?
A: The victims of Richard Barnett were mostly between 9 and 13 years of age.
Q: What was the sentence handed down to Richard Barnett?
A: Richard Barnett was sentenced to 34 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of court-supervised release.
Q: Where can victims of sexual exploitation report their cases?
A: Victims of sexual exploitation can report their cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
