Thomas Leslie Carr, 50, of Jacksonville, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for producing child pornography using underage ‘models’ he paid for sexually explicit photo shoots. U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis handed down the sentence after a federal jury found Carr guilty on June 1, 2017, in a case exposing a sordid network of exploited minors tied to a broader human trafficking ring.
The investigation began in 2012 when law enforcement targeted Michael Gallon, a human trafficker who recruited minor and adult females to perform at so-called ‘parties’ and ‘VIP rooms’ where customers paid for sex. Agents quickly identified Carr as a repeat customer who regularly paid Gallon to supply girls for private sessions at his Jacksonville residence. Carr admitted during questioning that he had hired about 15 girls from Gallon over a three-year span.
On October 28, 2013, Gallon was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and distribution of child pornography. Two weeks later, federal agents executed a search warrant at Carr’s home. They seized computer media containing videos and images of at least two minors, ages 15 and 17, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Carr admitted to conducting ‘photo shoots’ with both girls, which escalated into sexual acts.
Carr told investigators that Gallon would call him whenever new girls were available in Jacksonville. The two men would meet, exchange cash, and Carr would select which girls to take back to his residence. Though framed as photo sessions—where the girls would strip and pose nude—Carr admitted he routinely attempted to have sex with them. When resistance was met, he offered more money to seal the deal.
The videos recovered from Carr’s devices included footage of him engaging in sexual intercourse with one of the 15-year-old victims. His cooperation did not shield him from accountability. In 2014, Gallon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 33 years and 9 months in federal prison. Carr’s 15-year sentence underscores the federal crackdown on those who exploit children for sexual gratification and profit.
This case was investigated by the Lakeland Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa and Jacksonville. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown, Beatriz Gonzalez, and Stacie Harris. The case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative to combat child sexual exploitation. More information is available at www.justice.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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