Pensacola Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison For Producing Child Pornography

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Joseph T. Holbert, 54, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to producing multiple images and videos of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Crimes against our children are among the most sinister types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Those who produce child pornography facilitate the abuse of children, robbing them of their innocence. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”

In February 2023, Holbert was caught using hidden cameras to film two minor females in various stages of undressing, and using an outdoor shower to clean themselves, in order to capture images and videos of them without clothes.  The victims were 8 and 9 years old.  Law enforcement was alerted to this behavior and seized hidden cameras and Holbert’s cellular telephone.  A forensic review of the seized items revealed the child pornography Holbert produced for his own pleasure.

“This sentencing confirms the FBI’s commitment to seek justice for our kids,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Jacksonville. “Together with our partners, we have ensured one less predator is victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community, and we will continue to dedicate every available resource to identifying and stopping those who exploit our children.”

Holbert’s prison sentence will be followed by lifetime of federal supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg prosecuted 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.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.