Benjamin Hoover, Child Pornography, Florida 2026

Ocala Man Sentenced to Almost Four Years in Prison for Child Sex Crimes

In a disturbing case of child sex crimes, Benjamin Hoover, a 44-year-old Ocala man, has been sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. The crime was committed on July 23, 2025, when Hoover transferred a sexually explicit image of himself to someone whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl. In actuality, the minor was an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Hoover pleaded guilty to the crime on January 7, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement regarding the sentencing.

According to court documents, Hoover attempted to transfer obscene material to a minor, a crime that is a serious offense in the state of Florida. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the federal government to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Hoover’s sentencing is a result of the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect children from sexual predators. The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber is a serious consequence for Hoover’s actions.

This case highlights the importance of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative that marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

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