Morganton Man Sentenced to 13+ Years for Transporting Child Pornography

A Morganton man has been sentenced to 13+ years in federal prison for transporting child pornography. Martin Lee McGee, 32, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for his crimes, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

McGee was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to pay a $100 special assessment, a $5,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JTVA) assessment, and a $35,000 Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA) assessment.

According to court records, in April 2020, law enforcement were alerted to an individual, later identified as McGee, using Snapchat to upload child pornography. A forensic analysis of the seized devices and information revealed that McGee possessed more than 13,500 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.

Some of the child pornography in McGee’s extensive collection depicted minors as young as toddlers engaging in sadistic and masochistic conduct.

McGee pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography on October 6, 2021. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons Upon designation of a federal facility.

U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI and the Newton Police Department for their investigation of the case, and thanked the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

Assistant United States Attorneys Cortney Randall and Nick J. Miller 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.

Martin Lee McGee, 32, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for transporting child pornography.

He was ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to pay a $100 special assessment, a $5,000 JTVA assessment, and a $35,000 AVAA assessment.

Defendant: Martin Lee McGee

Criminal Charges: Transportation of Child Pornography

City and State: Morganton, North Carolina

Exact Date: April 2020 (crime date)

Sentence or Outcome: 160 months in federal prison, lifetime supervised release, registration as a sex offender, and payment of $100 special assessment, $5,000 JTVA assessment, and $35,000 AVAA assessment

Dollar Amounts: $100 special assessment, $5,000 JTVA assessment, $35,000 AVAA assessment

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