BALTIMORE, Md. — A 38-year-old Elkton man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Monday.
Mark Rice pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the sexual abuse of two minors in his care and the online distribution of material documenting the abuse. According to court records, Rice used social media platforms including Reddit, Telegram, and Kik to trade and solicit explicit content, while also producing his own material by abusing victims.
Rice’s arrest followed a tip received in April 2023 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which traced a Reddit upload to an IP address registered to his Elkton residence. When confronted by police, Rice attempted to delete files from his phone, but investigators found over 600 images of child sexual abuse material across his devices.
Key Points
- Mark Rice, 38, sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing and sharing child sexual abuse material
- Rice sexually abused two minors and distributed images via Reddit, Telegram, and Kik
- Investigation began after a 2023 CyberTip traced material to Rice’s Elkton residence
According to his plea agreement, Rice began abusing one of the victims when she was under 3 years old, and also used hidden photography to exploit a second minor. He was active in online communities centered on the trade of illicit content, authorities said.
Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore led the probe with support from the Maryland State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. ICE officials said the sentencing reflects a continued focus on identifying and prosecuting individuals who exploit children.
A federal judge handed down a maximum sentence to an Elkton man whose abuse and online distribution of child sexual material triggered a nationwide investigation.