Elburn Man Sentenced to 37 Years for Child Sexual Exploitation

Shaun Healy used social media to target nearly 100 young victims

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A 45-year-old man from Elburn, Illinois has been sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting nearly 100 children he contacted through social media. Shaun Healy used Snapchat to pose as a young girl, gain the trust of his victims, and coerce them into producing and sending him explicit images and videos of themselves.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation, as predators increasingly leverage social media platforms to target and abuse vulnerable young victims. It also underscores the need for robust law enforcement efforts and harsher penalties to deter such heinous crimes and protect children.

The details

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Healy provided graphic instructions to his victims on the type of explicit content he wanted them to produce and threatened to publish the material if they did not send more. Law enforcement found a trove of this illicit content on Healy's cellphone when he was arrested at his home in December 2022.

  • Healy was arrested at his home in Elburn in December 2022.
  • Healy pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges last year.
  • Healy was sentenced to 37 years in prison last week by a federal judge in Chicago.

The players

Shaun Healy

A 45-year-old man from Elburn, Illinois who was sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting nearly 100 children through social media.

United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros

The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois who announced Healy's sentence.

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew J. Scarpino

The Homeland Security Investigations official in Chicago who assisted with the case.

United States District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

The federal judge who imposed the 37-year sentence on Healy.

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What they’re saying

“This case highlights the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation, as predators increasingly leverage social media platforms to target and abuse vulnerable young victims.”

— Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (Press Release)

What’s next

The judge's 37-year sentence for Healy reflects the severity of his crimes and the need to protect children from such predatory behavior. Authorities will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute individuals engaged in the online sexual exploitation of minors.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of parental supervision, digital safety education, and robust law enforcement efforts to combat the growing scourge of child sexual exploitation facilitated through social media platforms. It serves as a sobering reminder of the grave risks children face online and the need for vigilance to keep them safe.