The U.S. Eastern District of Virginia has issued the second sentence in the case of Asia Tamara Billups, a now-20-year-old Gloucester woman, and Michael J. Machonis, 30, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, for their roles in a case involving an infant and toddler.

A federal investigation revealed the two met on Snapchat in April 2024 and later became friends on several other platforms.

In July 2024, in response to a CyberTip about child-related digital images and conversations, authorities in New Jersey interviewed Machonis, who admitted receiving digital images of “babies” via WhatsApp from Tamara Billups, who he said he thought was 18 and lived in North Carolina or Virginia, federal court documents reveal.

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A search of his phone revealed explicit conversations and images from Billups’ number.

She initially shared sexually explicit material of herself. But in late May and early June 2024, she admitted sending Machonis four videos of Gloucester of explicit content involving her and two victims–a 3-year-old girl and 4-month-old boy she was babysitting.

She acknowledged in court documents that her face is visible in one video and the girl calls her by name in another telling her, “that hurts, stop.”

Authorities also obtained a text message exchange between Machonis and Billups related to two of the videos, which Billups acknowledged as evidence.

Billups pled guilty on April 14, 2025, to two counts of production of CSAM (child sex abuse material) and one count of distribution of CSAM. She was sentenced on Sept. 19, 2025, to 15 years in prison.

Machonis pled guilty on Oct. 24, 2025, to two counts of coercion and enticement and one count of receipt of CSAM. He has now been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

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