Bobby Cyprus Linhart, a 24-year-old from Greenfield, Indiana, was sentenced on April 9 to 40 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to several charges involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Linhart must also pay $68,000 in restitution to his victims.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of social media platforms by predators targeting children. According to court documents, between April 2023 and March 2024, Linhart contacted at least six minors aged between 12 and 15 through Instagram, Telegram, Snapchat, and X using the username “maps.syb.” He attempted to reach additional children as well.
Linhart used grooming tactics such as pretending interest in the children’s activities, complimenting their appearance, lying about his age, and offering narcotics in exchange for sexual acts. He coerced multiple minors into sending sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. These materials were then distributed by Linhart to entice other potential victims. Investigators found that he arranged meetings with some minors for sexual activity and traveled across state lines on at least one occasion for this purpose.
In one instance described by authorities, Linhart groomed a twelve-year-old girl via Instagram before persuading her to leave her home so they could meet. During their encounter he provided her with marijuana before sexually abusing her. On March 19 investigators searched Linhart’s home in Greenfield where they seized an external hard drive containing thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.
“What makes this case especially disturbing is that Linhart not only targeted children online but also attempted to—and in at least one instance succeeded in—meeting his young victims in person for sexual activities,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Protecting children from predators…remains one of our highest priorities.”
Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force Lieutenant Doug Baker said: “The facts and evidence of this case are deeply troubling…This investigation demonstrates what can be accomplished when local agencies and federal law enforcement like Homeland Security Investigations…work in close partnership.”
The investigation was conducted by Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force (an affiliate of the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force) along with Homeland Security Investigations. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn A. Haney and Kyle M. Sawa as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Preston prosecuted the case.
This investigation was part of efforts led by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force—a multiagency group investigating internet-based child exploitation—and Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice.
