A Wedowee man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in a dark and disturbing crime. Robert Aaron Sheppard, 33, was found guilty of possession of child sexual abuse materials and multiple firearms violations.
The crimes came to light in May 2022, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about the online upload of child sexual abuse materials, including images of nude young females.
The tip was referred to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Child Exploitation Unit, which identified Sheppard as the source of the uploads. A search warrant was executed at Sheppard’s residence in Wedowee, where agents examined multiple electronic devices.
Forensic analysis revealed numerous images of child sexual abuse materials stored on those devices. In addition to the digital evidence, law enforcement officers discovered a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD) – a component that turns a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon.
Sheppard also had an unmarked and unregistered silencer, which is illegal under federal firearms regulations. On October 8, 2024, Sheppard pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials and to the possession of a machinegun and silencer.
Sheppard was sentenced to 108 months (9 years) in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation (ALEA-SBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from NCMEC. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Steven Anthony Jackson, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Alabama 2022 · Connecticut
- William Michael Spearman, Child Exploitation Enterprise, Alabama 2023 · Alaska
- John Robert Remlinger, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Alabama 2023 · Kansas
- John Robert Remlinger, Child Sex Exploitation, California 2023 · California
- Wesley Scott Greene, Child Sex Exploitation, Alabama 2023 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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