Thomas A. Sweeney, Child Pornography, Ohio 2023

In a shocking case of child exploitation, a federal jury in Ohio has convicted a registered sex offender of new sex crimes against children. Thomas A. Sweeney, 48, of Columbus, was found guilty of all counts, including production of child pornography, attempted coercion/enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography and commission of a sex offense while registered as a sex offender.

The verdict was announced by Vipal Patel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, along with Steve Francis, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

According to court documents and testimony, Sweeney enticed a 14-year-old female to take sexually explicit pictures and send them to Sweeney’s phone. He also used his phone to attempt to coerce the minor victim into engaging in sexual activity.

Sweeney had previously been convicted in 2004 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court for two counts of rape involving a minor. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years in prison for that conviction.

The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman and Assistant United States Attorney Heather A. Hill. It was investigated by Franklin County ICAC Task Force members, a multi-agency effort dedicated to the fight against computer facilitated crimes against children.

The Franklin County ICAC Task Force is comprised of the following agencies: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio ICAC, Grove City Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Grandview Heights Police Department, Westerville Police Department, Hilliard Police Department, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Ohio Attorney General’s Office (BCI), The Ohio State University Police Department, Upper Arlington Police Department, Circleville Police Department, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.

The conviction carries a range of punishments, including a potential life sentence for coercion of a minor and a 10-year sentencing enhancement for committing these crimes while registered as a sex offender.

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