Jerry Hall Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography Production

Orlando, Florida — A Brevard County man who produced and possessed child pornography, including graphic images of a child under the age of 10, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Jerry Hall, 49, of Palm Bay, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza after pleading guilty on December 1, 2016, to one count of production of child pornography.

Investigators first targeted Hall in June 2015 after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) linked him to the use of file-sharing software to download illicit material. During the probe, authorities seized a memory card that held sexually explicit images Hall had taken of a minor on his cellphone in June 2014. The victim was under 10 years old at the time the photos were made, marking the crime as particularly heinous under federal law.

Forensic analysis of a custom-built computer and a laptop previously used by Hall uncovered a trove of child pornography, including videos and still images featuring young children. The digital evidence confirmed Hall wasn’t just a consumer — he was a producer of abusive content, cementing the severity of his criminal conduct. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all electronic devices used in the commission of the crimes.

“Child pornography is an atrocious crime because each movie or photograph represents a child who has been sexually abused,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Danny Banks. “FDLE will continue to aggressively investigate anyone who preys on our children.”

Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, added: “This child predator’s crimes will never be erased in the minds of the children that he victimized. This long prison sentence serves as a warning to child predators that these crimes will be discovered, will be prosecuted and will be punished severely.”

The case was investigated by HSI Tampa and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local action. More information is available at www.justice.gov/psc.