Registered Sex Offender Sentenced For Distributing Child Pornography

ATLANTA – Billy Gene McCorkle, Jr., a registered sex offender, has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography.

“McCorkle’s choice to continue to exploit children, even as a convicted sex offender has resulted in his exit from society” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “Recidivist offenders like this defendant prey on the most innocent in our society who depend on us to protect them.  We will continue to prosecute those who traffic in these horrific images and exhibit such blatant disregard for the welfare of young children.”

“The defendant’s repeated sexual exploitation of children is an egregious crime and well deserves this lengthy sentence,” said Brock D. Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta. “The distribution of child pornography continues the exploitation of its victims and creates a demand for the further abuse of other children. HSI is grateful to have such a strong partner in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia to aggressively investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these vile crimes.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court:  On November 4, 2013, a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered that McCorkle had accessed a website used to exchange images of child pornography.  On November 5, 2013, the agent, acting in an undercover capacity, sent an email to McCorkle, based on his profile information.  During the email exchange that followed, McCorkle offered to, and did, send child pornography to the undercover agent depicting a young, nude girl who appeared to be about eight years old.  The subsequent investigation revealed multiple occasions that McCorkle sent and received files containing child pornography.

On December 13, 2013, HSI special agents arrested McCorkle for distributing child pornography, and related offenses.  At the time of his arrest, federal agents also seized a cellular telephone from McCorkle.   When agents searched McCorkle’s telephone pursuant to a search warrant, they found more than 13,000 images of child pornography.  Agents also learned that McCorkle was a registered sex offender, having been previously convicted of child molestation on February 22, 2006.

McCorkle, 46, of Canton, Ga., was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release.  McCorkle pleaded guilty on May 8, 2014.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.

Assistant United States Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. prosecuted the case.

This case is a part of Project Safe Childhood.  In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.