OXFORD, Miss. – A Tupelo man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in federal prison for using an online application to coerce over 46 minor victims into sending him sexually explicit images and videos.
Sean Carson, 24, was sentenced by Senior Judge Michael P. Mills to 240 months and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges related to child sexual exploitation. Carson’s conviction stems from his actions targeting girls as young as 12, according to court documents.
The court heard that Carson would entice young girls to send him sexually explicit images. When victims attempted to cease contact, Carson escalated his tactics, threatening to disseminate the images and sexual text messages to their family members. This coercion was used to force the girls to continue communicating with him, share personally identifying information, and keep sending child pornography.
The FBI identified 46 victims in the case, though court documents suggest the total number of victims is approximately 100.
Upon release from prison, Carson will be required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or attends school. His access to electronic devices will also be severely limited during his lifetime of supervised release.
“Significant sentences like the one handed down to Sean Carson help to ensure that our children are protected from sexual predators who lure children and then attempt to keep them silent,” stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. Joyner also noted that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to would-be predators.
Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office, echoed the sentiment, stating, “This sentence underscores the FBI’s commitment to protect our children from sexual exploitation… vile predators like Sean Carson will be held to the highest extent of the law.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
