Wedowee Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and Firearms Offenses

Montgomery, AL. – On April 30, 2025, a federal judge sentenced Robert Aaron Sheppard, 33, of Wedowee, Alabama, to 108 months (9 years) in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse materials and multiple firearms violations, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following his release, Sheppard will be subject to five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, in May 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about the online upload of child sexual abuse materials, including images of nude young females. The tip was referred to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Child Exploitation Unit, which identified Sheppard as the source of the uploads.

A search warrant was executed at Sheppard’s residence in Wedowee, where agents examined multiple electronic devices. Forensic analysis revealed numerous images of child sexual abuse materials stored on those devices.

In addition to the digital evidence, law enforcement officers discovered a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD)—a component that turns a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon. Under federal law, MCDs are classified as machineguns regardless of whether they are installed. Officers also recovered an unmarked and unregistered silencer, which is illegal under federal firearms regulations.

On October 8, 2024, Sheppard pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials and to the possession of a machinegun and silencer.

This case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation (ALEA-SBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from NCMEC. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted the case.