Zachary William Thomas, a 29-year-old resident of Clearwater, was sentenced on April 7 to seven years and six months in federal prison for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung following Thomas's guilty plea on October 7, 2025.
Thomas will also be required to pay $9,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the sentencing.
According to court documents, between February 13 and February 16, 2024, Thomas engaged in online chats using a social media application where he sent images and videos containing child sexual abuse material to another individual. In exchange, he received additional illicit material from that person. A search warrant executed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Thomas’s residence led to the seizure of two cellphones containing hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse nationwide. Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders who exploit children and provide support for victims.
