GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Michael Cannon, 34, of Gainesville, Georgia, has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for producing and distributing child pornography — a sentence that marks the end of a harrowing case involving the sexual abuse of two minor girls living under his roof. Cannon not only molested the children, but systematically documented the abuse, then traded the images online with other predators.
According to court records, in mid-December 2012, Cannon uploaded explicit photographs of a 10-year-old girl to a foreign-based website frequented by child exploitation offenders. The posts quickly drew responses — not from concerned citizens, but from predators eager to trade. Cannon provided his email and began exchanging graphic material, including images of himself sexually assaulting two young girls who resided in his home. In return, he received dozens of emails filled with more child abuse material.
“This defendant not only molested two young girls living in his household, he further victimized them by recording his sexual abuse and then posting the images on the Internet,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Thankfully the two girls have been rescued. We hope that this case will heighten awareness of child exploitation and deter others from committing such heinous crimes.”
Special Agent in Charge Nick Annan of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta didn’t mince words: “The victims in this case were stripped of their innocence and dignity, viciously abused and egregiously exploited countless times as a result of being abused and recorded for the pleasure of monstrous predators. The defendant truly deserves every day he will sit in a federal prison cell… every day and more.”
Agents identified and located both minor victims during the investigation. They were removed from Cannon’s residence and placed in protective custody. Cannon pleaded guilty to the charges on June 16, 2014. He was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul R. Jones. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat online child exploitation. More information is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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