Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Craig Anthony (25, Alabama) to 15 years and 6 months in federal prison for distribution of child sex abuse material. Anthony entered a guilty plea on January 29, 2024.
According to court documents, beginning on May 31, 2023, Anthony distributed multiple videos containing child sex abuse material to a social media account operated by an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent in Lake County. Anthony believed he was distributing the child sex abuse material to a minor. On August 3, 2023, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Anthony’s residence in Alabama. At least one image of child sex abuse material was confirmed on Anthony’s cellphone. Anthony later admitted to sending child sex abuse material over the internet to the undercover agent.
“The distribution of child sexual abuse material creates a permanent record of a child’s darkest moments, and revictimizes them in perpetuity,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “When predators distribute images of children being sexually exploited online, it forces these victims to confront the enduring, widespread circulation of their abuse for a lifetime. This is an unacceptable scenario for HSI, as we dedicate ourselves daily to stopping this vile behavior.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Originally published at https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/alabama-man-sentenced-more-15-years-federal-prison-distributing-child-sex-abuse