Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Ten Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Materials

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Aidan Francis Akins (31, Jacksonville) to 10 years in federal prison for receipt of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Akins pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024.

According to court documents, during April 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Jacksonville received information from an undercover investigation of a social media chat application about a user offering to sell CSAM. Further investigation led law enforcement to Akins, who was purchasing CSAM.

On June 16, 2023, an HSI special agent obtained a federal search warrant for Akin’s residence. When law enforcement searched his home, Akins was present and agreed to speak with law enforcement. Akins admitted he was in contact with an individual who had CSAM for sale and acknowledged purchasing CSAM from that individual on multiple occasions. When asked if CSAM would be discovered on his phone, Akins stated, “Yes, there may still be some in there, yes.” Akins said he knew possessing and viewing CSAM is illegal and admitted to viewing CSAM approximately every 2 to 4 weeks.

“The possession, trading, and viewing of child sexual abuse material from the darkest corners of the internet, makes these child predators complicit in the ongoing victimization of children,” said Homeland Security Investigation Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “HSI, alongside our state and local partners, are committed to protecting children, hold their offenders accountable, and stop the cycle of harm these images perpetuate forever.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.

It 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.