A Gloucester resident, Robert Burnham, 44, has been arrested and charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest took place on September 3, 2025, and Burnham made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He is currently detained pending a hearing scheduled for September 8, 2025.
According to court documents, authorities allege that between June 11 and October 4, 2024, Burnham coerced a 13-year-old girl into producing sexually explicit images and videos and transmitting them to him through social media platforms. The charging documents state that Burnham met the minor via Snapchat by pretending to be her peer and then asked her about people she knew. He also allegedly sent her an image of her father’s Facebook account as part of his efforts to intimidate her.
It is further alleged that Burnham claimed he possessed sexually explicit photos of the victim and threatened to send these images to her father unless she complied with his demands for more material. Authorities say he instructed the victim to create an account on JusTalk—a China-based messaging application—and continued their conversations there.
Over four months, Burnham allegedly provided specific instructions for the content of the videos and photos he demanded from the minor. When she did not comply or respond quickly enough, he is accused of threatening her with violence. According to the complaint, he told the victim he was “going to put f*****g hands on [her]” and threatened rape.
Investigators also allege that Burnham communicated with other minors on Snapchat using similar threats—claiming possession of nude images and threatening disclosure if they did not meet his demands. Messages were exchanged with two users who indicated they were only 12 years old.
If convicted, Burnham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. The statutory maximum includes up to life under supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 designed to combat child sexual exploitation nationwide by coordinating federal, state, and local law enforcement resources (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges alongside Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Boston Division. Support was provided by Harper County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Kansas City Division, and Gloucester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm is prosecuting the case.
“The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
