A Plymouth man, James Florence Jr., has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Boston to charges of cyberstalking and possession of child pornography. The case spans over 16 years, from 2008 to 2024, involving numerous women victims, some of whom were minors at the time. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns has set the sentencing for July 23, 2025.
Florence's actions included creating multiple accounts on various platforms to distribute AI-generated or doctored explicit images of the victims. His methods involved hacking into personal accounts, posting the images along with victims' personal information, and attempting to sell altered images online. The victims experienced harassment, with some being contacted by strangers due to Florence's activities.
A search of his residence revealed stolen personal items from victims, custom images, and materials depicting child sexual abuse. Florence's previous employment in technology and work for the U.S. government enabled him to use sophisticated methods to evade law enforcement.
The charges against Florence could lead to a maximum sentence of up to 20 years for possession of child pornography and five years for cyberstalking, with additional fines and supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley of the FBI announced the plea, acknowledging the assistance of local police and fire departments. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm.
