Hamilton, Ohio – In a shocking case of child exploitation, Jason Gmoser, 36, was sentenced to life in prison for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, announced U.S. Attorney James A. Lewis of the Central District of Illinois and Special Agent in Charge Sean Cox of the FBI’s Springfield, Illinois Division.
On February 12, 2016, a federal jury in Urbana, Illinois, convicted Gmoser of conspiring to advertise and conspiring to distribute child pornography, respectively. His sentencing came nearly two years later, on February 12, 2018, when U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce of the Central District of Illinois handed down the life sentence, along with 30 years and 20 years in prison to be served concurrent to the life sentence for the conspiracies.
Gmoser was arrested on October 16, 2014, following a court-authorized search of his home in Hamilton, Ohio. Forensic examination of computers and devices seized from his residence revealed that he was in possession of millions of files depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
Evidence at trial established that Gmoser acted as a member and co-administrator of a highly-sophisticated global enterprise dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children, organized via a members-only website that operated on the Tor anonymity network. The website, which hosted nearly 30,000 members as of July 2014, required users to share illicit child pornography images in order to gain and keep membership.
The FBI’s Springfield Field Office and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Section, Major Case Coordination Unit, and Digital Analysis and Research Center led the investigation of this case. Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Keith Becker and Trial Attorney Elly Peirson of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) 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.
Gmoser’s sentence marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against child exploitation. His crimes are a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child exploitation and the importance of continued efforts to combat this heinous crime. Gmoser will serve his life sentence, along with his concurrent sentences, and will be subject to a lifetime term of supervised release. The case serves as a warning to those who engage in child exploitation: law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet.
Project Safe Childhood 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.
Gmoser’s case is a prime example of the work being done by law enforcement to combat child exploitation. His conviction and sentencing serve as a reminder that those who engage in this heinous crime will face severe consequences. The work of law enforcement in this case is a testament to their dedication to protecting children and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.
This case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child exploitation and the importance of continued efforts to combat this heinous crime. Gmoser’s sentence marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against child exploitation, and serves as a warning to those who engage in this crime: law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
- David Ohnmaicht, Online Child Exploitation, NY 2024 · North Carolina
- Cordell Jenkins, Child Sex Trafficking, Ohio 2024 · Washington
- Deon M. Moore, Child Sexual Exploitation, Georgia 2023 · Ohio
- Kristy Koldis, Child Sexual Exploitation, New York 2024 · North Carolina
- Brain K. Hendrix, Child Exploitation Conspiracy, Tennessee 2015 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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