Mathew Palmer, Distribution of Child Pornography, Maryland 2023

Baltimore, Maryland - In a shocking turn of events, Mathew Palmer, a 44-year-old former Maryland state government official, has been sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography. Palmer, who held positions with the Maryland state government, including as Deputy Legislative Officer for the Maryland Governor’s Office and Chief Operating Officer with the Maryland Department of Commerce, was found to have distributed child pornography online.

According to court documents, investigators at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received reports from an instant messenger application advising that multiple accounts using similar usernames, all included “anonjohnny” as part of the name, had uploaded at least one image of child pornography or child-sensitive material between April 2019 and September 2019.

The investigation revealed that the same Internet Protocol address (IP address) was used to access the five “anonjohnny” accounts and was serviced by the same cellular service provider registered under Palmer’s phone number, e-mail address, and home address in Severna Park, Maryland.

On August 11, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Palmer’s residence in Severna Park and seized several electronic devices, including Palmer’s laptop and personal cell phone. Palmer’s cell phone was also linked to his office e-mail address. Palmer’s phone was logged into a new “anonjohnny” account on the instant messaging application.

Palmer admitted that he used this account to engage in chats with several other users concerning child exploitation. For example, in a conversation with one user, Palmer said, “Hi I have naughty thoughts about my teen daughters.” Palmer then sent the user images of two minor girls whom Palmer represented were his daughters. In fact, these minor children were not Palmer’s children. In a conversation with a second user, Palmer stated that his preference was for children aged eight and up. Palmer again sent pictures of two minor girls, falsely representing to the second user that they were his own daughters.

At least 936 images and 368 videos of child pornography were found on Palmer's cell phone, including prepubescent minors; child pornography involving toddlers; and child pornography involving bondage and other sadistic acts. Palmer was also found to have possessed hundreds of images and videos constituting child pornography.

Palmer was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender where he resides, is an employee, and is a student pursuant to the sex offender registration and nonfiction act (SORNA).

“Individuals like Palmer who trade and possess this illegal material online are essentially facilitating an underground criminal marketplace that endangers children,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “This case should serve as a reminder that law enforcement will bring to justice anyone who endangers children. No one is above the law.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/former-maryland-state-government-official-sentenced-eight-years-federal-prison