Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  A federal judge yesterday sentenced a previously convicted sex offender for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

United States District Judge Annmarie Axon sentenced Darrell Dewayne Thrasher, 62, of Tuscaloosa County, to 120 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime supervised release. In April 2021, Thrasher pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

“Possession of child pornography is an insidious crime that continues to sexually exploit a child every time an image is downloaded or shared,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Every child deserves a safe childhood, and my office remains committed to vigorous prosecution of child exploitation in this district.”

“Thrasher is a repeat child sex offender and deserves every day of this sentence,” FBI SAC Sharp said. “The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue those who would exploit our children.  To  report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in partnership with the FBI.”

According to the plea agreement, in August 2019, Thrasher’s federal probation officer conducted a home visit and found five smart phone devices at Thrasher’s residence. Thrasher admitted he used three of the smart phones to download child pornography, and that he possessed child pornography on those devices.  A forensic examination of the smart phones revealed multiple images and videos of children being abused and exploited. Thrasher was on federal supervision for receipt of child pornography at the time.  Thrasher’s supervision was revoked in September 2019. The terms of Thrasher’s supervised release included a restriction from possessing a smart phone device. 

In 2008, Thrasher was convicted in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama of receipt of child pornography. In 2009, Judge Karon O. Bowdre sentenced Thrasher to 97 months in prison.  Thrasher was released in December 2016 on 10 years of supervised release. 

Thrasher has remained in the custody of law enforcement since his arrest in August 2019.

The FBI investigated the case, along with the Northport Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and John Hundscheid prosecuted the case. 

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