Melton Andrew Padgett Jr., Distribution of Child Pornography, Georgia 2020

Savannah, GA - A shocking case of child exploitation has come to light as Melton Andrew Padgett Jr., 47, of Savannah, pleads guilty to distributing child pornography from inside a state prison transitional center.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes, Padgett admitted to sharing videos of child exploitation through a social media messaging service in March 2020. This is not Padgett's first offense, as he has prior convictions for child molestation and failing to register as a sex offender.

The investigation was led by the Georgia's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Homeland Security Investigations and the Savannah Police Department also assisted in the case.

Padgett faces a possible statutory sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release of five years to life. There is no parole in the federal system.

In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Estes said, 'This defendant is a shocking example of a child predator who shared videos of child exploitation even as his sentence for a previous offense was nearing its end.'

Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger added, 'Cases like this strengthen the resolve and the commitment that HSI and its law enforcement partners have to protect our children and our communities.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/savannah-prison-inmate-pleads-guilty-distribution-child-pornography