Memphis, TN - A local man has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
In late 2014, the Department of Homeland Security’s cyber investigative unit was conducting an investigation into a photo-sharing website that had become a popular place for the exchange of child pornography. Law enforcement identified a user of the website who had logged in from an IP address assigned to Jeffrey William Massey, 27, of Cordova, TN. The user had posted albums on the website containing pornographic images of minors.
On December 4, 2014, agents executed a search warrant at Massey’s residence. Massey agreed to talk to agents and admitted to obtaining child pornography online and to posting on the website under investigation. He also used websites and his email account to chat with others about and exchange child pornography.
During the search, agents seized numerous electronic and digital media storage devices. Forensic examination revealed approximately 250 images and 16 videos constituting child pornography. Review of Massey’s email account revealed chats about trading pornographic images of adults and minors, and evidence that child pornography had been sent from his email account on at least one occasion. His email account also contained communications from the website under investigation.
On October 5, 2017, the Honorable John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Massey to 90 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release to begin after his incarceration. He was also ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources and click on the tab "resources."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey A. Weiland prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
