⏱ 2 min read
A 76-year-old Ruskin man, Michael Paul Linnan, has been sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in federal prison for transporting, distributing, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material. The crimes occurred in Tampa, Florida, and involved the use of an encrypted messaging platform to distribute over 100 images and videos of child sex abuse material, including content featuring young children. Linnan pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Linnan used the encrypted platform to not only distribute but also receive images and videos of child sex abuse material. Additionally, he stored hundreds of videos on his phone and transported the images into his online photo storage account. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Muriel Moore as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven, includes the forfeiture of Linnan’s cellphone, which was used in the commission of the offenses. This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children.
Project Safe Childhood, launched in May 2006, marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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