ORLANDO, FL – Sean Calvin Ellixson, 30, of Orlando, Florida, will spend more than two decades behind bars after being sentenced to 24 years and 5 months in federal prison for the distribution of horrific child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza handed down the sentence today, also ordering Ellixson to forfeit the digital devices used to commit the crimes.
The case unraveled on September 10, 2023, when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Orlando flagged concerning online communications. An undercover agent, posing as a 13-year-old girl in an online chatroom, engaged with Ellixson, who believed he was communicating with a minor. Over several days, Ellixson engaged in sexually explicit conversations and sent three videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Investigators quickly moved to execute a search warrant at Ellixson’s residence on September 11, 2023. Confronted with the evidence, Ellixson readily admitted to possessing the illegal material on his cellphones, confirming the number used to contact the undercover agent belonged to him. He confessed to actively seeking out child sexual abuse material through online interactions, and even detailed an attempt to purchase more by sending a gift card to an unidentified individual in exchange for a link containing further depraved content.
“The sentencing of Sean Ellixson serves as a stark reminder that HSI will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect our children from exploitation and abuse,” stated Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “This outcome, achieved through the dedicated efforts of HSI Orlando and our law enforcement partners with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, underscores our unwavering resolve to hold perpetrators of child exploitation accountable for their actions and to ensure justice for their victims.”
Ellixson pleaded guilty on February 6, 2024. The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with the prosecution handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons. This conviction is another win under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice.
Project Safe Childhood aims to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, while simultaneously working to locate and rescue victims. Anyone with information regarding child exploitation is urged to contact the authorities or visit www.justice.gov/psc to learn more about this vital program and how to report suspected abuse.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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