A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Campbell has been arrested on charges related to child sexual exploitation, according to an announcement from Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. The suspect, Robert Cecilio, 39, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court documents state that between May 1, 2024, and the present, Cecilio allegedly communicated with at least three minor female victims using Snapchat. Investigators say he persuaded the minors to send him nude photos and videos. A search warrant for Snapchat records revealed more than 8,400 contacts—including messages, images, and videos—exchanged between Cecilio and one victim.
Cecilio was detained by Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agents and Military Police Officers when he entered Fort Campbell on August 8, 2025. After waiving his Miranda rights, Cecilio admitted to using several Snapchat accounts—some with variations of the name “Gabe”—to communicate with minors. He confessed to engaging in inappropriate sexual communications with multiple minor girls over a long period and receiving numerous images and videos that he understood to be child pornography.
If convicted of these offenses, Cecilio faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and could be fined up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Nashville Field Office (Clarksville Resident Agency) along with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is handling prosecution.
The charges are part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
“A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
