Sean-Michael Smith, a 36-year-old registered child sex offender from Jacksonville, Florida, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard handed down the sentence, which also includes a 15-year term of supervised release after incarceration. Additionally, Smith was ordered to forfeit his computer device, which was used to access the illicit materials.
Smith’s history of child sex offenses dates back to 2014, when he was convicted in federal court of distributing videos and photos of children being sexually abused. His latest offense occurred in 2024, when he admitted to accessing CSAM using the internet on multiple occasions.
The investigation into Smith’s activities began on December 10, 2024, when U.S. Probation Officers conducted a search of his residence. During the search, Smith admitted to accessing CSAM using the internet during August, September, and December 2024. He also revealed that he had used a particular electronic device to access these materials, which was subsequently seized by officers.
The device was later forwarded to the FBI for further investigation, and on February 18, 2025, the agency extracted the contents of the device’s computer chip. A review of the materials revealed that the device had been used by Smith to access at least 35 photos depicting young children being sexually abused.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Smith pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2025, and was arrested on December 18, 2024. His sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the need to protect children from individuals who seek to exploit and harm them.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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