Defendant Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Michael Dawes Hall, age 25, a resident of Tifton, Georgia, was sentenced on July 29, 2013 by the Honorable Hugh Lawson in United States District Court, Valdosta Division, to 61 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 25 years’ supervised release.

Mr. Hall entered a plea of guilty on July 29, 2013 to possession of child pornography. He admitted possessing computers containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A cyber tip provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children from an Internet service provider associated Hall’s e-mail address to uploading images and a video of child exploitation onto an online social networking group. These images involved prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12 years and depicted minors engaged in sexual conduct of a sadistic and masochistic nature.

U.S. Attorney Michael Moore said, “Every time Mr. Hall looked at these images and every time he uploaded the pictures and videos, he re-victimized these children. My office will use every resource we have to find and prosecute defendants like Mr. Hall. After all, if we are not willing to fight to protect our kids, what is worth fighting for?”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.