# US federal child sex crime prosecutions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-federal-child-sex-crime-prosecutions
> Updated: 2026-09-01T20:46:57.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Federal authorities in Missouri are processing multiple cases involving child sex crimes. In Boone County, eight men have had their cases transferred to federal court following a sting operation conducted in June; the accused face charges such as attempted child enticement and attempted sex trafficking.

In a separate legal action, Terry Michael Howard, 21, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Howard used Snapchat to coerce two 13-year-old girls and used threats of harm against another individual to facilitate the crimes. This prosecution was conducted as part of the Justice Department’s ‘Project Safe Childhood’ initiative.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-01: Missouri federal courts process child sex crime cases and sentencing

Federal authorities in Missouri have moved eight men to federal court following a child sex crime sting and sentenced a Marble Hill man to 12 years in prison for coercing minors via Snapchat.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/missouri-federal-courts-process-child-sex-crime-cases-and-sentencing

### 2026-08-26: South African man sentenced to 12 years in US prison for child pornography

South African national Marcell Meyer has been sentenced to 12 years in a U.S. federal prison for child pornography crimes discovered during an undercover investigation.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-african-man-sentenced-to-12-years-in-us-prison-for-child-pornography

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Cite as: US federal child sex crime prosecutions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-federal-child-sex-crime-prosecutions