Former DC Teacher Arrested and Charged with Soliciting Child Pornography, DOJ Announces
Former Washington, D.C. health teacher Devonne Keith Brown faces charges of soliciting child pornography via CashApp from a minor.
A former schoolteacher from Washington, D.C. has been taken into custody by federal authorities on serious charges related to the solicitation of child sexual abuse materials. Devonne Keith Brown, 56, who was employed as a health teacher at IDEA Public Charter School, now faces accusations of engaging in online communications with a minor from Prince George's County, Maryland, seeking explicit content and allegedly sending monetary payments in exchange.
The Justice Department announced on Monday that Brown is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography after an extensive investigation led by the FBI's Washington Field Office. Assistant Director Steven Jensen emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Those who prey on minors to solicit the production of CSAM are morally reprehensible and will be held accountable for their heinous crimes." He further reiterated the FBI's commitment to protecting children and eradicating such offenses from communities.
According to court documents, Brown allegedly used CashApp to send payments to the underage victim. Investigators found a transaction where the minor requested $15, accompanied by a message reading, "for snacks ? more photos otw." The investigation revealed that the minor first encountered a man identifying himself as "Joseph" at a local grocery store. Authorities allege that the communications soon shifted to social media, where the man pressured the girl into sending nude images of herself, and in exchange, he sent her money as well as nude photos of women, urging her to replicate them.
The disturbing pattern prompted law enforcement to examine Brown's electronic records, where they reportedly uncovered sexually graphic images and videos in emails sent to Brown by additional minors. These findings deepened federal prosecutors' concern regarding the scope and scale of the alleged online exploitation.
Following his arrest, Brown appeared in court on Monday, where a judge ordered him detained pending a follow-up hearing scheduled for Thursday. Officials have stressed that the case remains an active investigation.
IDEA Public Charter School issued a statement expressing their distress over the allegations, asserting, "This individual is no longer employed by the school. The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority." School officials said they are fully cooperating with authorities and clarified that, according to current information, no students at IDEA were directly involved in the incident.
The arrest underscores ongoing law enforcement efforts to crack down on the trafficking and solicitation of child sexual abuse material nationwide, with agencies urging community members to report any suspicious activity involving minors online.
