US airman accused of coercing 9-year-old into sharing explicit images

A U.S. airman, David Ibarra, 31, has been charged with coercing a 9-year-old girl to send sexually explicit images after posing as a 13-year-old on social media platforms TikTok and Roblox. Ibarra was arrested in February while serving on active duty in the Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska, and was arraigned in a New York federal court.

Prosecutors have detailed that Ibarra communicated with the girl, who resides on Long Island, starting in August. He convinced her to switch to Roblox, claiming to be a 13-year-old boy from Texas. Throughout their exchanges, he allegedly encouraged her to create explicit content, offering her financial compensation via Apple Pay totaling $191 across 17 transactions.

The girl's mother discovered the inappropriate messages and, pretending to be her older sister, reached out to Ibarra for further information. During this interaction, he sent her a selfie that partially revealed his face, which helped authorities establish his identity.

Investigation efforts included tracing Ibarra's phone number based in El Paso, Texas, and examining his iCloud account. During questioning, Ibarra reportedly confessed to paying the girl for the explicit images and indicated that he believed she was 12 years old. He also admitted to coercing other girls into similar acts.

Following his arrest, Ibarra has been in an "unpaid status," according to an Air Force spokesperson, though it's unclear what additional military disciplinary measures he may face. The charges against him include sexual exploitation of a child, and he is currently being held pending trial.