In July 2022, Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department began investigating Mark David Wallin, a 42-year-old resident of Del Rey in Los Angeles. He was arrested under suspicion of using websites and social media apps like Snapchat to persuade children to engage in sexually explicit conduct on the platforms' video chats. Wallin was also accused of taking screenshots of the images and videos during the calls. 

Wallin Pleads Guilty

At the beginning of 2023, Wallin agreed to a plea deal, reporting that he performed such acts between 2019 and 2021. Once the victims sent their first sexually explicit content to Wallin, he would demand additional sexually explicit images and videos from them. Wallin's victims were not just underage; they were preteen boys and girls who lived both in the United States and abroad. One such instance involved a 9- to 10-year-old victim who specifically used Snapchat to converse with him.

Wallin further admitted to knowingly causing at least four other victims to create multiple files of sexually explicit material to send to him. These victims ranged in age from 12 to 16 years old. Wallin also confessed to possessing a smartphone with about 200 sexually explicit images from children.

United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled the sentencing hearing for April 21. Wallin faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison – at maximum, a life sentence.

Hiring a Skilled Criminal Attorney

No matter what happens after arrest, every defendant in the United States deserves a competent attorney to create a strong defense. Attorney Vitaly Sigal of Sigal Law Group is a skilled criminal attorney with years of experience helping defendants mitigate any unnecessary negative difficulties they might experience because of these accusations. He will help you fight for your freedom at every turn, from the moment you are arrested to the moment the judge makes their final decision. Call 818-325-0579 today for a free consultation.