Shalimar man sentenced to 70 years in federal prison for creating, distributing child porn
SHALIAMR — A 32-year-old man will spend the next 70 years in federal prison for using Kik Messenger to distribute images of child pornography that he was creating “in real time.”
Jeffrey W. Boone Jr. of Shalimar was sentenced on multiple counts of child sexual exploitation after pleading guilty on Nov. 18, Jason Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced in a Friday press release.
Boone’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to sex offender conditions.
“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” Coody said in the release. “Acts of such depravity are horrific and will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Our law enforcement partners are to be commended for the swift, collaborative efforts, which resulted in the rescue of this child.”
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The federal charges related to Bonne’s involvement on the social media platform Kik Messenger.
In October, undercover FBI agents noticed Boone distributing images of child pornography to others on the platform under an anonymous username. It appeared to the agents that Boone was producing the images himself with a victim under 10 years old, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The FBI immediately obtained online records relating to the anonymous username and traced the activity back to Boone in Shalimar. That same day, FBI agents obtained a search warrant and executed it on his home.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office assisted. The victim was rescued during the search, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Law enforcement also seized digital devices confirming Boone’s victimization of the child.
“Whether a local, state, or federal agency, there is nothing more fundamental to the law enforcement mission than protecting our children from abuse and exploitation,” Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said in the release. “We are proud to have partnered with the FBI in its determined and detailed investigation to locate a person responsible for producing and distributing child pornography, and to gather the evidence necessary to hold that individual accountable for his vile actions.”
“The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that requires swift and intense law enforcement action,” Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division added. “We at the FBI are prepared to do everything in our power, with a sense of urgency and alongside our partners, to protect innocent children and bring predators to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, the OCSO, and other members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Amanda Gordon.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Shalimar man gets 70 years in federal prison after creating child porn
