COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus woman has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child, including recording and distributing videos of her abuse of a 3-year-old victim.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly Norris of the Southern District of Ohio, 29-year-old Becky Gillespie used Snapchat to share or offer to share videos of herself engaging in sex acts or sexually explicit behavior with the toddler. The content was distributed to other individuals, including known child predators under investigation abroad.
During a forensic analysis of her electronic devices, authorities also discovered a photo of a second minor victim — a child seen positioned naked on Gillespie’s bare chest.
One of the individuals Gillespie shared content with was a suspect in Australia already under investigation for multiple child sexual abuse offenses. Gillespie and this user exchanged graphic videos, including material that Gillespie herself had produced.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings:
Gillespie was charged in January 2024
She pleaded guilty in December 2024
Sentenced to 23 years in federal prison
Officials say the sentence reflects the seriousness of her crimes and the global nature of child exploitation rings.
