Vallejo Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison After Facebook Reported Distribution of Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Garland E Burrell Jr. sentenced Robert Patton McGee, 53, of Vallejo, today to seven years in prison for distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Facebook reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that someone had uploaded suspected images of child pornography to a Facebook profile. The investigation of these profiles led law enforcement to execute a search warrant at McGee’s residence in June 2014. When interviewed by law enforcement officers, McGee admitted to sending and receiving child pornography through Facebook and email. Analysis of Facebook and email addresses used by McGee showed that between November 10, 2011, and May 9, 2014, McGee distributed thousands of images and videos containing child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a federally and state-funded task force managed by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department with agents from federal, state, and local agencies. The Sacramento ICAC investigates online child exploitation crimes, including child pornography, enticement, and sex trafficking. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley prosecuted the case.

This case was 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.