Woman, 45, gets 35 years in prison for using pictures of her own daughter to coerce 16-year-old boy into sending her explicit videos and for getting him to attempt suicide in fake 'pact'

A Philadelphia mother has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for 'catfishing' a 16-year-old boy by pretending to be a teenage girl under the persona of her own daughter, manipulating the victim into sending her explicit videos and entering into a suicide pact with her. 

Linda Paolini, 45, learned her fate on Monday, more than a year after after she pleaded guilty to two counts of manufacturing child pornography and once count of online enticement of a minor. 

According to federal prosecutors, Paolini used Instagram to engage in sexually explicit exchanges with a 16-year-old Florida boy and coerce him to produce and send her videos of him masturbating. 

Linda Paolini, 45, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for 'catfishing' a 16-year-old boy by pretending to be her own teen daughter and manipulating him into sending her videos of himself masturbating

Linda Paolini, 45, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for 'catfishing' a 16-year-old boy by pretending to be her own teen daughter and manipulating him into sending her videos of himself masturbating 

'She did this by assuming the persona of a 16-year-old girl, sending the boy provocative images of her own daughter in order to manipulate him into thinking that an attractive, same-aged girl was in love with him,' according to a statement from the Justice Department. 

During an online video chat, Paolini faked a suicide attempt to manipulate the victim into trying to take his own life 'in solidarity' with her. 

She and the victim exchanged over 50,000 messages over the course of a few months. 

'This defendant’s criminal conduct was so heinous and cold-hearted that it almost defies description,' said First Assistant US Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. 'She maliciously manipulated a child into making and sending her pornography of himself. 

'But that was not enough for this defendant. She then manipulated the vulnerable child into attempting suicide. As a result of this prosecution and today’s sentencing, she will be behind bars for decades and will no longer pose a danger to other children.'  

Paolini also admitted to 'catfishing' at least two other boys.  

The FBI launched an investigation into Paolini in 2019 after getting a phone tip about her online conduct. 

Paolini's sentence also calls for a lifetime of supervised release and a more than $15,000 in fines. 

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