Press release from the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jon Walter Crawford, a 36-year-old resident of High Springs, Florida, has been sentenced to ten years in prison following his guilty plea on charges of distributing child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, made the sentencing announcement.

U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “I acclaim the diligent work of both state and federal law enforcement officials who have thoroughly investigated, identified, and brought this offender to justice for distributing child sexual abuse material. Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community—our children—against exploitation and victimization is a primary duty of my office. We will not hesitate to prosecute to the fullest extent those who engage in these heinous acts.”

According to court documents, the investigation began when the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Deputies identified Crawford, confirming his possession and sharing of child sex abuse material, while Homeland Security Investigations found that he possessed more than a thousand files of videos and images showing the sexual abuse of minors.

Click here to read Alachua Chronicle’s article about the investigation and Crawford’s arrest.

Sheriff Chad D. Scott expressed: “I commend our detectives for their unwavering dedication and expertise, which were vital to this investigation. Their collaboration with federal partners underscores our steadfast commitment to protecting our children—the most vulnerable members of our community. This stands as a message: anyone who seeks to harm or exploit children will be located, held responsible, and brought to justice. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will use all available resources to ensure these predators are stopped and our community’s children remain safe.”

“Child predators who amass such appalling imagery perpetuate ongoing and lifelong abuse of children,” commented Nicholas Ingegno, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Tallahassee. “HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, will persistently work to protect the most vulnerable and ensure those who exploit them face justice.”

The investigation leading to Crawford’s conviction and sentencing was a joint effort by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.