Pensacola Sex Offender Sentenced to 40 Years for Receipt of Child Pornography

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – John William Hall, 61, a registered sex offender residing in Pensacola, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison yesterday, after pleading guilty on February 22, to receipt of child pornography.  The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

In 2017, Homeland Security Investigations interviewed a teenage girl whose image had appeared in child pornography recovered in Canada.  The girl identified herself in the pornographic pictures and told investigators they were taken when she was around 13 or 14 years old.  She said some of the photographs had been taken at Hall’s residence in Pensacola.

In June 2017, law enforcement officers seized Hall’s computers and cellular telephones.  A review of Hall’s computer revealed numerous images of child pornography, including pornographic images of children under the age of 12.  The investigation showed that Hall had also searched for child pornography on a Russian website known for the distribution of child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Canova said: “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, this predator will never be able to hurt another child.  This 40-year sentence should serve as a warning to those who would victimize vulnerable children.”

“Justice was served in this case, as this predator received what is essentially a life sentence in prison for his crimes against children,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Mobile and Pensacola Offices.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.