Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Ronald Pate Newman, III, a 27-year-old resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of producing child pornography. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “This case exemplifies the threats our kids face online from disgusting predators like this defendant who seek to sexually exploit and victimize them. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting cases like these, and will seek maximum punishments to keep monsters like him locked away in prison and unable to exploit more children.”
According to court documents, law enforcement became aware on April 28, 2025, that a previously convicted sex offender was using an 11-year-old child from Florida to produce explicit images. Investigators found that Newman met the victim through an account meant for appropriate public posts but later convinced the child to communicate privately. He then groomed the child and directed them to create explicit photographs, which he shared on other accounts. After his arrest in Ohio, authorities conducted a forensic analysis of seized devices and discovered over 500 images of child pornography.
Because of prior convictions, Newman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty-five years in prison and could be sentenced up to life imprisonment. Upon release, he would also be subject to lifetime supervision.
The investigation was carried out jointly by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is set for April 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online by coordinating federal, state, and local resources for apprehending offenders and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of ninety-four offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General. Public court documents are available through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website; further details about this office can be accessed at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
