Philadelphia Teacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Exploitation

Former Philadelphia teacher Jeremy Schobel has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release for his role in a catfishing scheme that solicited sexually explicit photos from underage girls. Schobel, 33, created fake profiles posing as underage girls to deceive his victims, often operating from his classrooms at Harriton High School and the High School of Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia. His crimes spanned over three years and included receiving and manufacturing child pornography. Schobel's arrest followed a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which led to a federal investigation and his eventual indictment and guilty plea. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and FBI officials emphasized the betrayal of trust and the commitment to protecting children from such exploitation. Schobel is also required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law.