Child Pornography Operation Exposed
A Grapevine youth basketball coach was sentenced to prison in what authorities described as an extensive child pornography operation. Michael Bo Peacock was sentenced last month to 40 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release. The 50-year-old Denton man was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.
The Investigation
Beginning in January 2023, federal authorities say Peacock coerced more than 100 children to provide sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves. He and a Louisiana man, 35-year-old Daniel Perryman Collins, often found the children on social media platforms such as SnapChat, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Frequently, the men blackmailed and threatened the children to provide more sexually explicit material, storing the pornography on a shared file with an overseas cloud-based hosting service.
How the Operation was Discovered
Authorities discovered the operation while investigating the sexual exploitation of children on the dark web, the attorney’s office said. Both men were arrested in November 2023. Each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Peacock’s Background
Before his arrest, Peacock coached high school girls basketball for Grapevine Faith Christian School, which has an enrollment of more than 800 students beginning in kindergarten, and for True Texas Hoops, a competitive Christian-based youth basketball program in North Texas.
Response from Grapevine Faith Christian School
In a statement Tuesday, Grapevine Faith said it notified families and fired Peacock when school leaders became aware of the investigation in late 2023. He was hired in 2021.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority at Grapevine Faith Christian school and we are committed to maintaining a safe, Christ-centered environment,” the school said in an email to The Dallas Morning News. “We are grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who pursued justice in this case and pray that his sentencing brings a measure of peace and healing to those impacted.”
Response from True Texas Hoops
In a statement posted to its website, True Texas Hoops said it, too, fired Peacock in 2023 and notified all families who had contact with him.
“To our knowledge, no incident ever occurred involving any True Texas athlete or family,” the organization wrote.
All coaches and staff members undergo annual background checks and screenings through the nonprofit organization USA Basketball, True Texas Hoops said.
“The safety, dignity and protection of every athlete — especially our female athletes — remain our highest priority,” the organization wrote. “We remain steadfast in our mission to stand for what is true, safe and good, and we are grateful for the continued trust and partnership of the families and communities we serve.”
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, with assistance from the FBI’s Dallas and New Orleans field offices.
Crime in The News
Conclusion
The sentencing of Michael Bo Peacock to 40 years in federal prison is a significant step in the fight against child pornography and exploitation. The case highlights the importance of vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community in preventing and prosecuting such crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the nature of the child pornography operation?
A: The operation involved the coercion of more than 100 children to provide sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves, which were stored on a shared file with an overseas cloud-based hosting service.
Q: Who was involved in the operation?
A: The operation involved Michael Bo Peacock, a 50-year-old Denton man, and Daniel Perryman Collins, a 35-year-old Louisiana man.
Q: How was the operation discovered?
A: The operation was discovered by authorities while investigating the sexual exploitation of children on the dark web.
Q: What was the response of Grapevine Faith Christian School and True Texas Hoops to the allegations?
A: Both organizations fired Peacock and notified families who had contact with him, and expressed their commitment to maintaining a safe environment for their students and athletes.
