A Mississippi man, Foster Denzel Harris, was sentenced in federal court to 240 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to court documents, Harris, aided and abetted by another, knowingly distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct in violation of federal statute.
In 2022, the victim in this case reported to the FBI that she had been exploited when she was 16 years old, and living in Killeen. Between 2016 and 2022, while using the KiK social media application on her phone, Harris extorted $21,000 dollars from her, threatening to expose her if she didn’t pay.
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who exploit children by distributing child sexual abuse material will be held fully accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp. “The pain these victims silently endure is immeasurable, and the FBI will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on them. We applaud the extraordinary courage of the victim in this case, whose fortitude to come forward enabled us to obtain a measure of justice and put a stop to the continues abuse. If you have information about child exploitation, contact your local FBI office or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.”
This 20-year sentence is the maximum sentence allowed under the statute. Harris was also ordered to pay $31,429.00 in restitution to the victim and placed on lifetime supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.
Project Safe Childhood is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, and it 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The sentencing of Foster Denzel Harris serves as a reminder that the distribution of child pornography is a serious crime that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to protect children from exploitation and to bring perpetrators to justice.
RELATED: Harris Gets 20 Years for KIK Extortion & Child Porn
Related Federal Cases
- Harris Gets 20 Years for KIK Extortion & Child Porn · Mississippi
- Ex-Harris County Deputy Andrew Craig Sustaita Held on Child Porn Charges · Texas
- Arkansas Gangs Fuelled by Drugs & Violence Face Federal Crackdown · Mississippi
- Seattle Jail Riddled with Rights Violations · Mississippi
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes