Ashley Renea Hilligoss Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Photo Production

Ashley Renea Hilligoss, a 37-year-old woman from Citrus Springs, Florida, has pleaded guilty to producing sexually explicit photographs of a minor child, marking another grim chapter in the federal fight against online child exploitation. The guilty plea was entered in federal court in Ocala, where Hilligoss now faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a potential life term of supervised release.

Indicted on June 22, 2021, Hilligoss admitted to creating and transmitting graphic images of a young female child engaged in sexually suggestive acts. According to court documents, she used the internet to send the illicit material to another individual, believing the files would remain hidden. Federal investigators, however, traced the transmission and seized evidence from an encrypted online storage account linked to the recipient.

FBI agents from the Ocala Resident Agency executed the investigation, recovering multiple copies of the disturbing photographs. During a recorded interview with law enforcement, Hilligoss confessed to taking the images and sending them electronically. There was no attempt to deny her involvement or minimize the severity of the crime.

The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton, who emphasized the predatory nature of distributing child sexual abuse material. “This wasn’t a mistake or a lapse in judgment,” said a DOJ representative. “This was a deliberate act to document and share child abuse.”

The case was pursued under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the proliferation of child sexual exploitation. Through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local agencies, the program targets offenders who use digital platforms to produce, distribute, or possess child pornography.

No sentencing date has been scheduled. Hilligoss remains in custody pending further court proceedings. For more information on Project Safe Childhood and ongoing efforts to protect minors, visit www.justice.gov/psc.