Savannah Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography

SAVANNAH, GA—JOHN MICHAEL COBURN, 24, of Savannah, Georgia was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for the production of child pornography. The federal statutory penalty for that crime is 15 to 30 years in prison, without parole. At the conclusion of the sentencing, Coburn was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to begin serving his sentence.

According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Coburn was first investigated for trading images depicting the sexual abuse of children over the Internet through a file-sharing program. Following the execution of a search warrant, it was discovered that Coburn had surreptitiously video taped minors in a shower for several years.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, "This sentence reflects the serious consequences faced by those who produce child pornography and exploit children in our District. Our children deserve protection from those who abuse and prey on them."

Tarver commented that this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.

Tarver praised the cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which investigated this case, including FBI Special Agent William Kirkconnell and ICE Special Agent Thomas D. West. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy C. Greenwood. For additional information, contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.