A federal jury in Tampa has convicted Sean Anthony Christie, 43, of Sarasota, on charges related to the production, distribution, and receipt of child sexual abuse material. Christie was also found guilty of accessing such material with the intent to view it. He could face up to 80 years in federal prison. The date for his sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the conviction. According to evidence presented during the trial, Christie used social media platforms to solicit, receive, and distribute images involving minors under the age of 12. He also used another social media application to meet minor girls, including a 12-year-old victim whom he exploited to produce child sexual abuse material.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into Christie’s activities. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry is prosecuting the case.
“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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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,” according to the press release.
Project Safe Childhood is an ongoing effort that brings together various law enforcement agencies at multiple levels with a focus on combating crimes involving child exploitation.
