Sean-Michael Smith, Child Sex Abuse Materials, Florida 2024

A convicted child sex offender has been arrested and indicted for allegedly using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials. Sean-Michael Smith, 36, of Jacksonville, Florida, was taken into custody on December 18, 2024, and is currently being held pending trial.

According to the indictment, Smith used the internet to access child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of 10 years and up to 20 years in federal prison, as well as a potential life term of supervised release. This is a stark reminder of the dangers of child sex abuse and the importance of protecting our children from predators like Smith.

Smith’s arrest is the latest in a series of cases brought under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims.

As part of this initiative, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville investigated Smith and presented the case to the grand jury, which returned an indictment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.

Smith’s prior conviction in 2014 for distributing child pornography makes his latest alleged offense even more egregious. His history of exploiting children should serve as a warning to others who would seek to harm our young people.

Law enforcement agencies across the country are working tirelessly to bring these perpetrators to justice and to safeguard our children from harm. We must continue to support their efforts and hold accountable those who would seek to exploit and harm our most vulnerable citizens.

In the meantime, Smith’s case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child sex abuse and the importance of vigilance in protecting our children.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida urges anyone with information about child sex abuse to come forward and report it. You can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

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