Jonathan James Moore, 58, of Jackson, was sentenced on Apr. 21 to 60 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, according to an announcement by D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address crimes involving the exploitation and abuse of children through technology. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that federal, state, and local agencies continue to work together to hold offenders accountable.
The investigation began in January 2025 after the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about files containing child sexual abuse material uploaded to a Gmail account. Authorities determined that Moore operated this account and obtained search warrants in February 2025 for his residence and email accounts. Hundreds of images were found depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct as well as material involving infants and toddlers.
Moore admitted during an interview that he viewed nude images of children downloaded from the internet for sexual gratification. He also acknowledged altering some images before uploading them to his Google Photos account. In April 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Moore on several charges related to child sexual exploitation; he later pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Moore not only to prison but also imposed five years’ supervised release, a $5,000 fine, and another $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dunavant said: “Criminals are using technology to victimize and exploit child victims with increasingly disturbing frequency. This case demonstrates that no matter where offenders are located, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners will find them and hold them accountable for internet crimes against children.”
This prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow with investigative support from multiple agencies including the FBI; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; Jackson Police Department; and Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee advances community safety through federal law enforcement and public outreach efforts according to its official website. It is one among ninety-three offices under the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website.
The office handles prosecutions involving violations of federal criminal law as well as civil cases where it defends or represents interests related to the United States according to its official website. Serving all areas within its district boundaries according to its official website, it operates from offices located in Memphis and Jackson according to its official website—supporting both criminal prosecutions and civil defense since tracing its origins back over two centuries ago in 1803 according to its official website.
