Michigan man sentenced to 30 years in prison for involvement in child exploitation ring

DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan man who admitted to exploiting a girl was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison in an investigation sinister online community this causes children to commit acts of self-harm and create images of sexual violence.

Richard Densmore ran the chats as a member of 764, an international group that targets children online, especially children with mental health problems, the US Department of Justice said.

“This group seeks to inflict untold harm on children in furtherance of its goals of destroying civilized society, inciting civil unrest, and ultimately collapsing the institutions of government,” Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen told reporters.

Densmore, 47, received the maximum sentence from U.S. District Judge Hala Jarboo during an appearance in federal court in Lansing.

“It is actually quite difficult to overstate the depravity of Mr. Densmore’s crime and the threat posed by criminal networks like 764,” said Mark Totten, U.S. Attorney for Western Michigan.

Densmore pleaded guilty in July to sexual exploitation of a child, admitting he received a video of a naked girl with his nickname written on her chest. In a court document, the government said he had more casualties and that his actions made him a “sensation” among the Allies.

Defense attorney Christopher Gibbons did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment after the sentencing. He said in court filings that Densmore, an Army veteran, openly admitted his wrongdoing.

“He did not downplay the scope or illegality of his conduct,” Gibbons wrote.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend said Densmore and others bragged about photographs of children cutting and abusing themselves, “which they viewed as trophies, social currency and leverage to extort children into a cycle of continuous abuse.”