Austen Peppers, Child Pornography, California 2023

Fresno, CA - In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Austen Peppers, 34, of Lawton, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to advertising and distributing child pornography in federal court in Fresno, California.

According to court documents, Peppers was identified by law enforcement investigators as someone who sold and offered to sell images of minors being sexually abused. He conducted transactions on the dark web using platforms and applications that he believed were secure and protected him from law enforcement scrutiny.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations offices in Fresno, Chicago, and Oklahoma, as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Tactical Team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney James Burke IV of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Peppers has been in custody since his initial appearance in this case on November 14, 2019. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba.

Peppers faces potential punishments for each of the two counts, including a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, a lifetime term of supervised release, forfeiture of property, and possible restitution to victims.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/oklahoma-resident-pleads-guilty-advertising-and-distributing-images-child-sexual-abuse