A Colorado man, Tyrell Forest Anderson, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the production and distribution of child pornography and transferring obscene material to a minor, as announced by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme on March 28, 2025. Anderson, 35, confessed to three counts in an indictment, which includes production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor.
The legal outcomes Anderson faces are significant. He could receive a mandatory minimum imprisonment of 15 years, with a maximum of 30 years for the production charge. For the distribution charge, he faces 5 to 20 years, and up to 10 years for transferring obscene material. Additionally, the term of supervised release could range from five years to life. Fines could be as high as $250,000 for each charge, along with a variety of special assessments. Under the plea agreement, his total sentence will not exceed 27 years.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan oversaw the proceedings, while U.S. District Judge Susan Watters will determine the final sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Anderson remains in custody pending these further legal proceedings.
The investigation originated when Jane Doe 8 reported to authorities in October 2022 that she had inappropriate online interactions with Anderson. The Bozeman Police Department identified numerous minor individuals who Anderson allegedly solicited via Snapchat for sexual content in exchange for incentives like money, nicotine, or drugs from 2022 to 2024.
In a separate February 2024 incident, Anderson communicated with a 13-year-old, Jane Doe 1, asking for explicit images and suggesting a meet-up for sexual purposes. He inquired whether she might report him, indicating awareness of the legal ramifications of his actions. Further evidence showed he possessed and distributed images of child pornography, including those he received from Jane Doe 1.
On another occasion, Anderson distributed a video depicting minors engaged in sexual acts. Authorities confirmed he was aware the individuals in the video were minors, having directly communicated with one. Anderson also approached Jane Doe 7, showing unsolicited explicit images, and similarly requested such content from her.
The case is prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, with the Bozeman Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations leading the inquiry.
