Keystone Heights Man Sentenced For Producing And Transporting Child Pornography

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Travis Christopher Ellis (27, Keystone Heights) to five years in federal prison for transporting, receiving, and possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to pay $2,500 in restitution to the victims of his crimes and to serve a 20-year term of supervision following his release from prison.

According to court documents, on May 5, 2016, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations served a search warrant at Ellis’s residence. During an interview with agents, he admitted to using file-sharing programs to download and share child pornography. He also admitted to using particular search terms to find child pornography and to saving his collection on external hard drives.

"This sentencing should serve as a warning that peer-to-peer networks do not shield criminals from prosecution," said HSI Tampa acting Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. "HSI special agents and our partners at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office have ensured this predator is held accountable for his continued victimization of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

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 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.