A Lakewood man was sentenced on April 16 to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to child sexual exploitation, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Gareth S. Schakel, age 34, received a sentence of 312 months from U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese following his conviction for producing child pornography, distributing and receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and possessing child sexual abuse materials. Schakel was also ordered to pay $52,000 in restitution and will be subject to lifetime supervised release after serving his prison term.
Prosecutors said that in 2023 Schakel operated an “invite only” server from his home dedicated to sharing explicit content involving children with other offenders. During a search of his electronic devices in April 2023, agents found hundreds of files depicting the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers as well as other graphic material. Investigators also identified a fifteen-year-old victim whom Schakel had exploited by soliciting sexually explicit images and sending her similar photos of himself. He had previously been convicted at the state level for pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor in 2011 and failing to register as a sex offender.
The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division along with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, which brings together federal, state, and local resources nationwide against internet-based child exploitation crimes targeting minors through initiatives led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio promotes community safety and protects residents through outreach programs across northern Ohio according to its official website. The office serves as chief federal law enforcement authority within its district under the Department of Justice according to its official website, enforcing criminal laws related to national security and public corruption while defending civil suits on behalf of the United States according to its official website. It covers forty northern counties including offices located in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, and Youngstown according to its official website, collaborates with schools and law enforcement agencies according to its official website, operates within federal law enforcement structures according to its official website, enforces civil rights laws while protecting public funds through community engagement according to its official website.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or reporting suspected child exploitation online visit justice.gov/PSC or cybertipline.org.
