A man who posed as a girls’ college soccer recruiter pleaded guilty to child pornography charges on July 13. As announced by U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham, Michael Ansley Twing pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography.
The 43-year-old was charged on May 18 after a criminal complaint was filed against him. As stated in court documents, Twing downloaded sexually explicit images of minor girls on his laptop via eMule, a file-sharing application.
Authorities say Twing was a registered sex offender prior to the time he acquired the explicit images.
Prosecutors showed evidence that Twing pretended to be one “Michael Krogen,” a recruiter for a local university in North Texas. Agents found a note in his bedroom where he claimed to be a recruiter for the university. The note was written on the university’s letterhead.
They also discovered a roster of high school soccer players and at least one text to a coach in which Twing requested a student’s contact information.
Authorities say the university cooperated fully with the investigation, and there is no evidence that the university did anything illegal. The name of the university is being withheld.
The investigation is a joint effort by the U.S. Secret Service’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Hurst Special Investigations Unit, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Fort Worth Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and Sex Offender Investigations Units, and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
Twing’s guilty plea was made before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton; his sentencing — set for October 21 — will be conducted by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor in Fort Worth. Twing faces up to 40 years in federal prison.
Authorities urge minors or anyone who knows a minor who has had inappropriate contact with Twing at a soccer tournament or somewhere else to alert Crimestoppers at 817-469-TIPS (8477) or www.469TIPS.com.
Twing is described as a 6’2” white male with dark blond hair and blue eyes. Authorities added that he weighs 195 pounds and wears glasses. The man uses aliases like “Michael Krogen” and “Christopher Michael Crogen.”
