⏱ 2 min read
A 41-year-old Tennessee man, Matthew Leach, has been sentenced to 65 months in federal prison for transporting and possessing hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material. The crime was discovered when Leach’s cellphone was searched as he departed a cruise ship, where law enforcement found the disturbing content. Leach had admitted to receiving or downloading the material on various internet platforms before his trip. The incident occurred in Florida, and Leach pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026.
The subsequent forensic review of Leach’s cellphone uncovered the shocking extent of the child sexual abuse material in his possession. This case is part of the nationwide initiative, Project Safe Childhood, launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah Dorman and Courtney Richardson-Jones. The forfeiture of Leach’s cellphone was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
Leach’s sentence reflects the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to protect children from sexual exploitation. Project Safe Childhood aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.
Related Federal Cases
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- Thomas Zayas, Child Sexual Abuse Material, Florida 2022 · Alaska
- Saoud Al Naimi, Child Sexual Abuse Material, Florida 2024 · Alaska
- Lucio Daza Marquez, Child Sex Abuse Material, Florida 2024 · Alaska
- Benjamin Crawford, Child Sex Abuse Material Distribution, Florida 2023 · Alabama
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Tennessee
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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