Devon McCoy Shealy was charged August 3 in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota.<\/p>\n
He faces charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of images depicting sexual exploitation of minors.<\/p>\n
The allegations are detailed in a federal complaint filed by a Homeland Security Investigations special agent.<\/p>\n
Investigation Began After Discovery in Iowa<\/h2>\n
The case began after an Iowa mother found concerning images on her eight-year-old twin daughters’ phones.<\/p>\n
A nine-year-old friend later told investigators she had communicated with someone through Snapchat.<\/p>\n
Investigators said the Snapchat user claimed to be a 14-year-old boy from Minnesota.<\/p>\n
The user allegedly asked the children to provide sexual images, according to court documents.<\/p>\n
Authorities later traced a phone number connected with the messages to Shealy in Fargo.<\/p>\n
Investigators searched Shealy and his Fargo apartment on May 18, according to the federal complaint.<\/p>\n Several phones and other electronic devices were seized during the search.<\/p>\n Investigators said Shealy acknowledged creating and using the Snapchat account identified in the investigation.<\/p>\n He also allegedly acknowledged requesting sexual content through Snapchat, according to the federal affidavit.<\/p>\n Authorities said he knew some people contacted through the account were minors.<\/p>\n A forensic review of one phone located about 826 files, according to investigators.<\/p>\n Authorities classified 633 of those files as child sexual abuse material.<\/p>\n Investigators also reported finding files matching material recovered from devices belonging to the alleged victims.<\/p>\n The complaint says messages provided additional evidence connecting Shealy with the children.<\/p>\n The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations<\/a>, the Fargo Police Department<\/a>, and the Carroll Police Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n Information about federal prosecutions is available through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota<\/a>.<\/p>\n The charges are allegations. Shealy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n![\"Devon](\"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Devon-McCoy-Shealy.png\")
Phone Analysis Leads to Federal Case<\/h2>\n