Prominent bodybuilding coach based in Charlottesville pleads guilty to child sex crimes

[Bodybuilding News]

A prominent bodybuilding coach based in Charlottesville, named Elliott Atwell, has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes. Atwell was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of enticing a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity, and one count of possessing child pornography. Between December 2013 and April 2020, he enticed at least six minors to send him sexually explicit videos of themselves.

Atwell's case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, which aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The FBI is investigating the case, and they encourage any additional victims to come forward (Justice) (Etlan).

 

[Bodybuilding News]

 

[Bodybuilding News]

A Charlottesville-based virtual bodybuilding instructor was sentenced to more than 21 years in jail on Wednesday after sexually exploiting at least six juveniles over a six-year period.

Elliott S. Atwell, 35, pled guilty in June to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.

According to court filings, from December 2013 to April 2020, Atwell marketed himself as a virtual bodybuilding instructor for high school bodybuilders, according to a press release. He sought youngsters online to reportedly teach them, and their talks and alleged bodybuilding training gradually turned to sex and sexuality.

According to federal officials, Atwell would urge youngsters to transmit nude images and videos of themselves while posing as a coach. Atwell also persuaded at least six kids to videotape themselves engaged in sexually explicit behavior and email those tapes to him.

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According to the announcement, Atwell sent the victims presents in order to win their trust and desire to cooperate. These gifts included a digital camera and sexually related objects. Atwell then provided the children precise instructions about the sexual practices he wanted them to conduct on tape.


In addition, the FBI examined Atwell's iCloud account, which revealed over 300 photographs and video files portraying kids engaging in sexually explicit behavior, including images of prepubescent boys performing sex activities.

"This defendant targeted young people who had put their trust in him as a coach and mentor, and he violated that trust to satisfy his own desires," Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee stated. "I am grateful to the men and women of the FBI who worked tirelessly to solve this case and bring some justice to the victims." Cases like this highlight how vulnerable our young people are and how attentive we must be in protecting them from deceitful cyber predators.


The FBI investigated the matter.

Special Agent Stanley M. Meador of the FBI's Richmond Division stated, "FBI Richmond is unwavering in its commitment to seeking justice for victims of child exploitation." (Wednesday's) guilty judgment is the result of years of tireless effort and devotion by our agents and analysts. The FBI, working with our partners, will continue to safeguard our children by removing dangerous predators from our communities."


The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melanie Smith and trial attorney Jessica Urban from the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, according to the announcement.

The case was filed as part of Project Safe Childhood, a countrywide campaign started by the Department of Justice in 2006 to tackle the scourge of child sexual exploitation and abuse, according to the announcement. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, go to www.justice.gov/psc.

Atwell was sentenced to 254 months in federal prison.