Fort Myers, Florida – In a chilling revelation of online criminal activity, Patrick William Cotton (48, North Fort Myers) has been sentenced to serve six years and six months in federal prison for possessing and accessing child sexual abuse images and videos. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today, also mandates life on supervised release and a requirement to register as a sex offender. Cotton pleaded guilty to his crimes on June 17, 2025.
Court documents unveiled that between February 14 and November 6, 2024, Cotton deliberately accessed and possessed images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. His offenses included searching for such material using social media applications and the internet.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) first received an alert in February 2024 when an electronic service provider reported Cotton uploading child sexual abuse material from his cellphone. This prompted a federal investigation, which led to the FBI executing a search warrant on Cotton’s social media account, uncovering graphic videos and images of child exploitation.
In November 2024, law enforcement executed another search warrant at Cotton’s residence, where they seized two cellphones. Following a conversation with agents, Cotton confessed to accessing CSAM using his cellphone, receiving links from various social media groups, and paying for more material on another platform. A subsequent forensic examination confirmed the presence of child sexual abuse material on his devices.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava prosecuted the case. It is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide effort to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and has been instrumental in identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those who sexually exploit children. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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- Waterloo Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Distribution · Iowa
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- Deltona Man Indicted in Child Porn Ring · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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