Columbus businessman sentenced to over seven years in prison on child porn charges
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A prominent Columbus businessman has been sentenced to prison after previously pleading guilty to child pornography charges.
About three years ago, Edward Sprouse Boyd Sr.’s home was searched by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation following a cyber tip.
The search led to the discovery of 5,047 images and 86,000 videos depicting child pornography, according to U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land. Boyd was arrested on six counts of child pornography.
Prior to his arrest, Boyd was an executive of his family business, Goldens’ Foundry and Machine Co.
On Thursday morning, Judge Land sentenced Boyd to 87 months in federal prison — just over seven years. The recommended sentencing for these crimes ranges from 87 to 108 months.
Boyd was ordered to pay $55,500 in restitution at the time of his sentencing. In six months, an additional $22,000 in amendments will be due.
Boyd has been out on bond, and he will voluntarily report upon receiving his assignment from the Bureau of Prisons, which can take up to 60 days.
Before Boyd’s sentencing was passed down, he addressed the court to say he has struggled with pornography most of his life and his alcoholism led him down a “slippery slope he had no business in engaging with chasing a dopamine hit.”
In the thousands of images and videos found, many of the victims were pre-pubescent, meaning under the age of 12.
According to Judge Land, some of those victims are as young as toddlers and infants. When WRBL spoke with a GBI special agent on Boyd’s case, he described the photos as “crime scenes in progress.”
Upwards of fifteen-character statements were submitted on Boyd’s behalf leading up to his sentencing date, an additional two submitted from Boyd’s brother and sister-in-law before his sentencing. The letters portrayed a “deeply troubled man who says he has turned to religion since being caught.”
Upon completing his sentence, Boyd will serve ten years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
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