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An Ohio man has become the first person in the United States convicted under the federal Take It Down Act, a law signed by President Donald Trump in May 2025 that criminalizes the nonconsensual posting of explicit imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. The Department of Justice announced Tuesday (April 7) that James Strahler II, 37, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, producing obscene visuals involving minors, and publishing digital forgeries—known as AI-created deepfakes—targeting both adults and children.
According to the Justice Department, Strahler used artificial intelligence tools to create explicit images and videos of people he knew, including minors in his own community. He manipulated their faces onto the bodies of others in sexually explicit scenarios, sometimes with family members. Authorities discovered that Strahler had over 2,400 illicit files on his phone, had downloaded more than 24 AI platforms, and posted more than 700 images to a website known for child sexual abuse material.
Law enforcement found that Strahler targeted at least six adult women and multiple minors, sending them and their families real and AI-generated nude images. In one instance, he made a deepfake video showing an adult victim in a sex act with her father, which he then sent to her coworkers, according to court records. Strahler also threatened victims with further exposure unless they complied with his demands, a pattern documented by text messages, voicemails, and online activity.
The Take It Down Act, championed by first lady Melania Trump as part of her “Be Best” initiative, requires online platforms to remove reported nonconsensual imagery within 48 hours. The law passed Congress with near-unanimous support and allows for penalties of up to three years in prison for offenses involving minors.
First lady Melania Trump stated, "I am proud to have worked with Congress to provide U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II with a strong legal mechanism to protect innocent victims from cybercrimes of this nature," emphasizing the administration's commitment to addressing the rise of AI-assisted exploitation.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported over 1.5 million tips related to AI and child sexual exploitation in 2025, highlighting the growing scale of the issue. Investigators say Strahler's case began with reports to local police before escalating to the FBI and the Maryland AI and Synthetic Media Threats Task Force.
Strahler, who was arrested in June 2025, now awaits sentencing before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. He faces up to three years in federal prison for offenses involving minors. The Department of Justice said it will continue to use new laws like the Take It Down Act to pursue those who use synthetic media to harm others.