Orlando Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

ORLANDO—Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced Jeffrey Alan Barnett (46, Orlando) to 12 years, 11 months in federal prison for distribution and possession of child pornography. The court also ordered Barnett to serve a 10-year term of supervision, following his release from prison, and to register as a sex offender.

Barnett pleaded guilty on August 7, 2013.

According to court documents, Barnett used a peer-to-peer filing sharing program to distribute child pornography to an undercover federal task force agent on three separate occasions. On March 21, 2013, a federal search warrant was executed at Barnett’s residence. During the execution of that warrant, investigators found a computer located in Barnett’s bedroom that contained child pornography. During an interview, Barnett admitted that the computer belonged to him, that he had been using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download and trade child pornography, and that he had been trading child pornography for over 20 years. Barnett was arrested on federal charges on March 21, 2013. A forensic examination of his computer found that he possessed over 250 videos of child pornography, including images of sadistic and masochistic conduct.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

It is another case 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 individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.