Justin Carroll, Child Exploitation, Tennessee 2021

Nashville, TN – In a shocking turn of events, a former FBI electronics technician has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in a child exploitation ring.

Justin Carroll, 37, was found guilty of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and three counts of transferring obscene material on an individual under the age of sixteen, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

According to evidence presented at trial, between June 2020 and April 27, 2021, Carroll engaged in sexually explicit chats and exchanged sexually explicit images with three fourteen-year-old females over various social media platforms after connecting with the minors on chatting websites.

Carroll’s conduct was discovered after one of the victims mailed a Valentine’s Day package to the FBI office. Sexually explicit images of the minor females were found in Carroll’s social media accounts and on his cell phone. Images of Carroll were found in one of the minor’s social media accounts and on another minor’s cell phone.

Despite being informed of the minor’s age by her mother, Carroll continued communicating with the fourteen-year-old victim who mailed the package.

“When someone in law enforcement dishonors their responsibilities by committing criminal acts, we will seek the most serious penalties in order to restore the public’s trust,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Justin Carroll dishonored the men and women of the FBI by his deplorable actions and now, thanks to the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners, he faces the consequences of those actions.”

Following his term of incarceration, Carroll will be on supervised release for 10 years.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office and Providence Field Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica R. Morrison and Juliet Aldridge prosecuted the case.

The public is reminded that child exploitation is a serious offense and those who commit such crimes will be held accountable.

Carroll’s sentencing serves as a harsh reminder that no one is above the law, and those who engage in such heinous acts will face severe consequences.

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