Saginaw man sentenced for sexually exploiting teen
Charles E. RamirezA Saginaw man has been ordered to serve more than 19 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children, officials said.
Eric Hartman, 34, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, Dawn Ison, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a statement.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Ludington also ordered Hartman to five years of federal supervised release following his prison term, Ison said.
Hartman pleaded guilty in March to guilty plea to sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, according to court records.
His attorney was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
Officials said FBI agents began investigating allegations against Hartman last year after a 13-year-old girl reported to the agency that he threatened her and forced her to send sexually explicit images and videos to him online.
Agents located Hartman in Saginaw and executed a warrant at his home where they confiscated multiple electronic devices. They analyzed the devices and found numerous online chats between him and minors in which he requested they send him sexually explicit videos. Agents also found other child sexually abusive material, they said.
"This case came to light through the bravery of a young victim who came forward to bring her predator to justice," Ison said. "This sentence justly punishes the defendant for preying on children and hopefully will encourage others to seek help from trusted adults and law enforcement if they are being coerced into sending explicit images online."
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, called Hartman "a glaring example of the manipulative nature of sexual predators, underscoring the relentless efforts of the FBI to apprehend these criminals and safeguard our children. His actions were despicable, and those who perpetrate such crimes will face justice. The FBI urges anyone with knowledge of child sexual exploitation to report it at tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1 (800) CALL-FBI."
@CharlesERamirez