U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg | U.S. Department of Justice
Kevin John Merritt, a 63-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, has pleaded guilty to producing videos and photos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Merritt is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years and could be sentenced to up to 50 years in federal prison. He may also face a potential life term of supervised release.
Merritt is already a registered sex offender due to his previous conviction in August 2011 for possessing child sexual abuse materials. He was arrested on March 16, 2023, and has been held in custody since then. His sentencing hearing is set for February 18, 2025.
The investigation into Merritt began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a "CyberTipline Report" from an online social media app on September 14, 2022. The report indicated that files depicting child sexual abuse materials had been sent through the app's messaging function by user "Jackie Frost" to another individual located in Jacksonville. This information was passed on to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for further investigation.
JSO detectives conducted searches and obtained subpoenas related to internet and cellphone service providers as well as social media apps connected to Merritt. The investigation confirmed that Merritt was using the alias "Jackie Frost" and had distributed child sexual abuse materials.
On March 16, 2023, JSO detectives executed a search warrant at Merritt's residence where he was arrested. Several electronic devices were seized from his home, including his cellphone. A forensic examination revealed an email account linked to the "Jackie Frost" social media account along with over 100 photos and videos showing the sexual exploitation of a minor who was later identified.
The case against Merritt was investigated by both the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Elisibeth Adams are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project brings together resources from federal, state, and local levels to locate offenders who exploit children sexually while identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
