A man from Long Beach, Mississippi, has entered a guilty plea to charges involving the production and distribution of explicit images and videos of minors. The man, Jason Leonard Rhodes, 47, admitted to three counts of producing explicit content involving minors and one count of distributing them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Gulfport, together with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, initiated an investigation in February 2023 after receiving information about Rhodes' alleged activities. As part of the investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at Rhodes' home on February 8, 2023, where they found various electronic devices.
A forensic examination of these devices, conducted by specialists from the Attorney General's Cybercrime Division, revealed videos showing Rhodes in explicit conduct with minors. Additionally, they discovered evidence of Rhodes distributing these materials through online chats.
Rhodes confessed to law enforcement, acknowledging the creation and distribution of illicit content. He is set to receive sentencing on August 26, 2025. The consequences could involve up to 30 years in prison for each charge related to production and up to 20 years for distribution. The final sentence will be based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
The announcement about Rhodes' plea was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, alongside Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Cybercrime Division, and the Long Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Smith, Glenda Haynes, and Andrea Jones handled the prosecution.
This case aligns with Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation. This project focuses on locating, prosecuting, and apprehending offenders while rescuing victims.
For further details regarding Project Safe Childhood, individuals can visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
