Anthony Gabriel Ortiz, Distribution of Child Pornography, Georgia 2023

Brunswick, GA – In a disturbing case of online exploitation, a former U.S. Navy petty officer stationed at Submarine Base Kings Bay has admitted to distributing child pornography.

Anthony Gabriel Ortiz, 23, of Kings Bay, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to 40 years, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution, followed by up to life on supervised release and registration as a sex offender.

‘The distribution of child pornography endlessly perpetuates the victimization of innocent children,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. ‘By admitting to this charge, Anthony Ortiz will be held accountable for his despicable contributions to this exploitive trade.’

In early 2019, investigators with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found online images of child pornography shared via a messaging application. RCMP alerted the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center, and HSI contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

Ortiz, a petty officer third class, was interviewed by HSI and NCIS investigators after transferring to Submarine Base Kings Bay in April 2019. He was taken into custody after admitting to possessing and distributing child pornography over the internet, and multiple images and videos of child sexual exploitation were found on electronic devices in his possession.

‘Mr. Ortiz deserves to be held fully accountable for these truly reprehensible crimes,’ said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. ‘NCIS exists to protect Department of the Navy personnel and their families from harm. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to root out and fully investigate sexual predators who prey on and exploit vulnerable children.’

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

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