Former Puyallup, Washington, resident pleads guilty to pressuring young girls to send him sexually explicit images

Seattle – A 23-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.  Nicholas Marshall, resided in Puyallup, Washington during most of the criminal conduct, pressuring young girls he met via the internet to send him sexually explicit images.  Yesterday, Marshall was sentenced to 87 months in prison in Pierce County Superior Court for the exploitation of a Texas 12-year-old.  The report from that victim brought the criminal conduct to the attention of law enforcement.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, both sides will recommend 9 years in prison and 15-years of supervised release when Marshall is sentenced on April 1, 2022.

According to the plea agreement, between October 2018 and September 2019, Marshall communicated with various minor girls via the internet apps ‘Discord’ and ‘Snapchat.’  Homeland Security Investigations in Houston, Texas, began an investigation after the mother of a 12-year-old reported her daughter communicating with Marshall via text message and Discord, and the sexual nature of the contact.  Puyallup Police investigated the case and Marshall was charged in Pierce County Superior Court for that conduct.

The investigation revealed there were at least four other victims who had been pressured or threatened into sending Marshall sexually explicit images: A 13-year-old girl residing in Washington State; a 16-year-old residing in Wisconsin; a 14-year-old residing in Texas; and a 15-year-old residing in Canada.  In some cases, Marshall promised the victims money or gift cards, in others he threatened the girls or their families to get the images he wanted.

On September 10, 2019, investigators searched Marshall’s new residence in Seattle.  On his electronic devices they discovered 38 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Marshall was arrested at his job as a security guard in Seattle.

Marshall has been out of custody on the Pierce County charges.  He was taken into state custody following the sentencing yesterday.  Marshall was turned over to federal custody for today’s court proceeding.   Ultimately the state and federal sentences will run concurrently.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Puyallup Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angelica Williams in coordination with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.