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A U.S. Air Force senior airman based in Alaska has been charged with sexually exploiting a 9-year-old Long Island girl, specifically having the victim send him nude photos and videos, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
David Ibarra, 31, was arraigned Wednesday in federal court in Central Islip on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, coercion, and enticement. He was arrested Feb. 12 by the FBI and detained in Anchorage, Alaska, before being transferred to the Eastern District of New York.
Court documents allege Ibarra, while based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, first contacted the victim in August over TikTok, and later communicated with her through the online game Roblox. Posing as a 13-year-old boy named “Dave” from Texas, he specifically targeted the child, repeatedly pressuring her to text him nude photos and sexually explicit videos in exchange for money, according to prosecutors.
Text messages recovered from the victim’s phone reveal the graphic nature of Ibarra’s alleged demands, prosecutors said.
On Aug. 22, he allegedly wrote, “Not enough. Take them off … I’ll send money…” Then, on Aug. 29, he texted the girl, “Can we be a little dirty before we go to sleep? Pls and I’ll send money…” court documents indicate.
Prosecutors allege Ibarra made approximately 17 payments totaling $191 to the victim’s Apple Pay account to induce her to continue producing sexually explicit images for his gratification. A forensic review of the child’s cellphone corroborated her statements about the ongoing sexual exploitation, court documents indicate.
“As alleged, the defendant, a 31-year-old man posing as a 13-year-old boy, manipulated a vulnerable child into producing and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of herself via text message in exchange for money,” said John Durham, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Attempting to continue his alleged exploitation, prosecutors said Ibarra contacted who he believed was the victim’s 15-year-old sister in January, but was actually communicating with the child’s mother. During these communications, he tried to understand why he could no longer contact the victim and sought help in reconnecting with her.
Ibarra reportedly admitted to authorities that he made contact with the girl online, believed she was 12 years old, and made payments in exchange for sexually explicit images. He also acknowledged communicating with other minor females, including a girl in New Jersey, who sent him similar images, court documents allege.
Efforts to reach Ibarra’s attorney, Evan Sugar, for comment were unsuccessful. Sugar did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. If convicted, Ibarra faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years behind bars.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation.
“The FBI is committed to finding and arresting the monsters who prey on vulnerable children,” said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie Backschies. “We will continue to work with our partners to ensure these predators are off the streets and behind bars where they can no longer pose a danger to our communities.”
Top photos: Main images of David Ibarra provided by U.S. Attorney’s Office, inset is a Facebook photo at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
