Defendant in Hagerstown child sex ring sentenced to 20 years in federal prison – fourth defendant

August 20, 2024 – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Ashley Marie Tibbs, 34, of Hagerstown, Maryland, to 20 years in a federal prison, followed by life probation, for sexual exploitation of a child. Judge Bredar also ordered that, upon her release from prison, Tibbs must register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) in the locations where she resides, works, and studies.

The verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, Chief Paul Joey Kifer, Chief of the Hagerstown Police Department, and J. Charles Smith III, Frederick County District Attorney.

According to Tibbs' guilty plea and other court documents, Tibbs abused two minor victims, who were between the ages of 2 and 5 at the time. On each occasion, Tibbs sexually abused the victims, produced videos of the abuse, and sent the videos to co-defendant John Balch in exchange for money. Balch paid Tibbs $38,325 through Cash App.

Balch was previously sentenced to 60 years in prison for the exploitation of six minors. Co-defendants Jane Campbell and Amber Ricketts were also sentenced to more than 17 and 10 years in prison, respectively, for distributing child pornography.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state, and local resources to track down, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the Resources tab on the left side of the page.

U.S. Attorney Barron commended HSI, the Hagerstown Police Department, and the Frederick County District Attorney's Office for their work in this investigation. U.S. Attorney Barron also thanked the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Northern District of West Virginia and the Middle District of Florida, as well as the FBI's Pittsburgh Field Office, for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who are prosecuting the case.