EVANSVILLE, Indiana – In a disturbing case of online exploitation, Casey Lee Smith, 48, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors.
According to court documents, in January of 2022, the Evansville Police Department received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, stating that 16 files containing child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to the instant messaging application, Kik, by Casey Lee Smith.
The video files included depictions of prepubescent minors and minors under the age of twelve years, as well as depictions of sadistic or masochistic conduct. Investigators searched Smith’s cellphone and uncovered 95 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material that had been accessed and viewed by Smith, with some involving infants.
Investigators also located the Kik application, which Smith did not disclose on his list of social media accounts when updating his sex offender registration information, required annually. Smith has been a registered sex offender since 2003 due to felony convictions for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child Pornography.
“This dangerous criminal used Kik to share the horrific abuse of the most vulnerable victims,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Those who gather online to revel in the exploitation of children will be identified and prosecuted. I am grateful to the FBI and the Evansville Police Department for their work to ensure that this defendant will serve a significant prison sentence, where our children will be out of his reach.”
Casey Lee Smith, 48, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors. The charges against Smith include: distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2)(A) and (b)(1), distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2)(A) and (b)(2). The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the government to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Casey Lee Smith is a registered sex offender since 2003 due to felony convictions for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child Pornography. The FBI and Evansville Police Department investigated this case, and U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant United States Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael N. Rodenbeek, Producing and Distributing Child Pornography,… · Kansas
- Michael Fluckiger, Global Child Exploitation Enterprise, Indiana 2024 · North Carolina
- Charles Ray Smith, Receipt of Child Pornography, Arkansas 2016 · Alabama
- David Roberts, Child Pornography Production, Indiana 2023 · Indiana
- Johnny Clay Amos, Child Pornography Production, Indiana 2014 · Indiana
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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