Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Bessemer man on child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala sentenced Jacquez Jarrone Conley, 24, to 235 months in prison followed by 25 years of supervised release. In August 2023, Conley pleaded guilty to one-count of possession of child pornography. This conviction will require him to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to the plea agreement, in July 2019, Conley was involved in an online social media group sharing child pornography. During that same time, FBI received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child sexual abuse material located on his Facebook account. In August 2019, federal search warrants were obtained for Conley’s residence in Bessemer and his Facebook account. A total of 18 digital devices were seized from the residence. Forensic analysis of the digital devices and his Facebook account revealed 701 images and 741 videos of child pornography.
“There is no place in our communities for those who prey on vulnerable children,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The success of cases like this come from the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement. We have one common goal – to pursue justice for child victims. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners in Alabama and Washington, D.C., this predator has been held accountable for his actions.”
“This sentence sends a strong message that the FBI will continue to aggressively identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who produce, possess, and distribute child pornography, SAC Peeples said.” This case highlights the importance and benefit of law enforcement partnerships and task forces. I would like to thank all our local, state, and federal partners who assisted in this case and the men and women of the FBI for their relentless efforts in protecting our children.”
FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF) investigated the case, with the assistance of FBI Washington and Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia’s CEHTTF, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Daniel McBrayer prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.