Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
Stephen Michael Lippincott, a 70-year-old resident of Kissimmee, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. The sentencing was delivered by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to the prison term, Lippincott is required to serve a 15-year supervised release period and register as a sex offender.
Court records reveal that on January 18, 2024, Lippincott's cell phone was searched by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Jax Port Cruise Terminal as he prepared for a four-day cruise to the Bahamas. The search was initiated following a tip about a possible warrant for indecent exposure from New Jersey. Officers discovered that Lippincott had been communicating with multiple female children aged between 8 and 14 on various social media platforms. He had sent money to at least six female children to watch him engage in sexual acts, which he recorded on his phone.
Tim Hemker, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville assistant Special Agent in Charge, stated: “Violating the innocence of a child is a detestable act and a betrayal of the trust that fortifies the safety of our communities.” He emphasized HSI's commitment alongside partners at the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Jacksonville to ensure justice against those who exploit children.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
