Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Sean Anthony Christie (42, Sarasota) with distribution, receipt, and access with intent to view child sexual abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Christie faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, between November 17 and 19, 2024, Christie distributed and received child sex abuse material. Christie also accessed with intent to view child sex abuse material which involved a child under the age of 12.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.