D’Iberville Predator Gets 10 Years for Philippine Victim

GULFPORT, MS – Jeffery Steward, a 54-year-old resident of D’Iberville, Mississippi, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for the abhorrent crime of transferring obscene material to a minor in the Philippines. The sentence, handed down in U.S. District Court in Gulfport, includes a subsequent three years of supervised release, a meager consolation for the damage inflicted.

Steward, also known as Jack Spangle, knowingly exploited a vulnerable child through the digital world. Court documents reveal he utilized the internet and a social media account belonging to the minor victim to send links to pornographic material. The prosecution successfully demonstrated that Steward was fully aware the victim was under the age of 16 at the time of the offenses – a crucial element in securing the conviction and harsh sentence.

“This isn’t some abstract internet crime; it’s the predatory exploitation of a child thousands of miles away,” stated U.S. Attorney Todd Gee following the sentencing. “Our office will relentlessly pursue those who seek to harm children, regardless of borders.” Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the FBI’s commitment to dismantling these networks of abuse.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Division, and the Philippine National Police, underscores the increasingly complex nature of these crimes. Tracking down perpetrators who operate across international boundaries requires seamless cooperation between law enforcement agencies, a logistical and legal quagmire often faced in these cases.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Jones and Lee Smith skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting compelling evidence that led to Steward’s conviction. The successful prosecution serves as a warning to others contemplating similar acts of depravity. This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation.

Project Safe Childhood, led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, focuses on locating, apprehending, and prosecuting individuals involved in the online exploitation of children, as well as rescuing victims. Resources and information about the project are available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov. While a decade in prison is a step toward justice, the scars inflicted on the victim will undoubtedly last a lifetime. This case serves as a grim reminder of the dark underbelly of the internet and the urgent need for continued vigilance.