In a disturbing case that has emerged from New York, a U.S. airman has been formally charged with engaging a minor in illicit activities for his personal gratification. The accused, identified as 31-year-old David Ibarra, allegedly convinced a 9-year-old girl to send him explicit pictures by pretending to be a 13-year-old boy communicating with her through platforms like TikTok and the gaming application Roblox. This information was revealed in a federal court proceeding.
Ibarra was presented for arraignment on Wednesday in New York after being apprehended in February while stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. At the time of his arrest, he was on active duty with the Air Force. The airman’s responsibilities were primarily as an air transportation specialist, managing logistics related to cargo. He currently faces serious charges, including the sexual exploitation of a child, and has been ordered to remain in custody until his trial.
The troubling interactions began when the victim, a resident of Long Island—a suburban region close to New York City—was approached by Ibarra on TikTok in August. Posing as a much younger individual residing in Texas, Ibarra coaxed the girl to shift their conversation to Roblox. Subsequently, the exchange moved to direct text messages, during which he manipulated her into creating and sharing explicit content. It has been alleged that he sent the girl money through Apple Pay, amounting to $191 across 17 distinct transactions.
The illicit exchange came to light when the girl’s mother noticed the messages and took action by pretending to be an older sibling. Her diligent investigation revealed more about the suspect’s identity, even prompting Ibarra to share a partial selfie. Using Ibarra’s phone number, which was traced back to El Paso, Texas, and his iCloud records, authorities were able to confirm his identity and the charges against him.
During questioning, Ibarra reportedly confessed to compensating the girl for the images, assuming she was 12 years old. Furthermore, he admitted to similar actions involving multiple other minors, one of whom resides in New Jersey. The Air Force has suspended Ibarra’s pay since his apprehension, though details on any further military disciplinary measures remain unclear.