A federal grand jury in Baltimore has indicted Shawn Livingston, 38, of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, on two counts of coercion and enticement of minors and 12 counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced.
The charges stem from allegations that beginning in 2022, Livingston used multiple Snapchat accounts to contact minor females across the United States, coerce them into sending sexually explicit images or videos of themselves, and entice them with payments sent through apps such as CashApp and Venmo. Prosecutors allege he received such material from at least five victims, ages 15 to 16. Livingston, an information technology professional, previously worked at a private school in Annapolis.
The investigation involved the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Office of Investigations and the Maryland State Police. Hayes commended both agencies for their efforts and highlighted the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven T. Brantley and Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn in prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s initiative since 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local action to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. Resources on internet safety and the program are available at justice.gov/psc.
An indictment represents formal charges and does not constitute guilt; Livingston remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, each coercion and enticement count carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, while each receipt count carries a minimum of five years and up to 20 years. Federal sentences often fall below statutory maximums, determined by a judge after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case builds on prior state-level action: Maryland State Police arrested Livingston in December 2025 on charges of sexual solicitation of a minor and knowingly permitting sexual solicitation of a minor following an investigation that began in April 2025 into online child sex abuse material activity. That probe led to a search warrant at his Annapolis residence. Reports from that time noted his employment at Key School in Annapolis ended after the arrest.
Federal involvement escalated the matter due to interstate communications via social media and payment apps, aligning with national priorities to address online child exploitation. Such cases often involve digital forensics to trace accounts, transactions, and transmitted material. Authorities urge reporting of suspected exploitation to appropriate hotlines or law enforcement.
