A man from Warm Springs, Oregon, has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison after being convicted of coercing and exploiting a 15-year-old minor using online messaging platforms.
Leonard Polk, 25, received a sentence of 135 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to court documents, Polk met the minor in December 2024 through Snapchat. He used Snapchat and Facebook Messenger to persuade the victim to send sexually explicit images. He later transported the minor to his residence on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where he sexually abused her on several occasions.
Polk was arrested in Washington on January 21, 2025, after the FBI learned he had taken the minor from Oregon to Washington. The minor was rescued during this operation.
“Protecting children remains our highest priority. This case serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers that exist on social media and the predators who use these platforms to exploit our youth,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Let there be no doubt: if you target children in our community, we will use every resource at our disposal to protect them and ensure you are held fully accountable.”
A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Polk on February 11, 2025, with charges including sexual abuse of a minor and sexual abuse of an incapable victim. He pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor on July 14, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Portland’s Bend Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about child exploitation to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Such material documents crimes against children and can re-victimize those depicted each time it is viewed online. More information is available from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was handled as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. Details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
