Marion County Man Arrested For Possession Of Child Sex Abuse Material

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Matthew Allen Gahan (24, Summerfield) on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of possession of child sex abuse material. If convicted, Gahan faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  

According to evidence presented in court, on or about September 13, 2023, Gahan was in possession of multiple videos portraying the sexual abuse of young boys. Gahan also used the dark web to distribute and receive child sex abuse materials.

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.         

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

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