Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography

SAVANNAH, GA - Oris Blair III, 38, a previously convicted sex offender from Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 15 years in federal prison, this time for possessing thousands of images of child pornography.  Blair pled guilty to the federal offense in early 2014.

According to evidence presented during his guilty plea and sentencing hearings, members of the Queensland Police Department (QPD), in Brisbane, Australia, arrested an Australian citizen for distributing child pornography.  Investigators determined that the Australian citizen distributed child pornography to hundreds of additional individuals worldwide, including Blair, a previously convicted sex offender residing in Savannah, Georgia.  After identifying Blair as a potential recipient of the child pornography, investigators reviewed email exchanges between Blair and others.  In one of the email exchanges, Blair wrote, “I like boys from 0 on up.”  The investigation determined that Blair had received, possessed and distributed child pornography.  In total, Blair was found to be in possession of at least 2,031 images and 318 videos of child pornography.  Many of the images depicted prepubescent males, toddlers, and infants being brutalized and raped by adults.

In 2002, Blair was convicted in Chatham County Superior Court on two counts of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes.  Both of those counts involved Blair sodomizing minors on two separate dates.  For those charges, Blair received a sentence of 7 months in prison, followed by just over 9 years of probation.

United States Attorney Edward Tarver said, “We cannot allow Blair another opportunity to inflict irreparable harm on children.  Blair deserves every day in prison he was sentenced to serve.  And, after he’s released from federal prison, Blair will be on federal supervised release for the remainder of his life.  The successful outcome of this prosecution is the direct result of the hard work and cooperation by the FBI and our friends with Australia’s Queensland Police Department.”

J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “Today’s sentencing reflects the serious nature of the defendant’s unbridled exploitation of children through child pornography.  Every time one of these images is traded or otherwise distributed, the child on those images is again victimized.  The FBI is proud of the role that it played in removing this individual from our streets as we continue to work hard to protect our nation’s children from individuals like Mr. Blair.”

This case was investigated by the Australia’s Queensland Police Department and the FBI.  Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Gilluly and Jenna Solari prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.