South Lake Tahoe Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Timothy Mackey, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, was sentenced today to five years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Mackey was a member of chat groups that shared child pornography on the social media platform LiveMe, including a group named “No Limit!!!” On two occasions in February 2020, Mackey, using the username “bag of rock,” posted nine images of child pornography in the “No Limit!!!” group. Mackey was also the administrator of at least one LiveMe chat group devoted to the exchange of child pornography, meaning he moderated the chat and was able to decide who entered the chatroom.

Mackey had worked as a snowboarding instructor and applied to become a foster parent prior to his arrest in April 2020.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department and South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.