Owensboro, KY - A Greenville man was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for producing, distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, Corey Allen Stephens, 31, used a social media application to chat with others, and in the chat, he posted an image of his sexual abuse of a toddler. He boasted that it was “Not the first time I’ve done it." Homeland Security officers traced the chat to Stephens’s home, where agents recovered additional evidence of child pornography offenses.
In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, Stephens was ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $3,000.
“I appreciate the exceptional work of HSI, KSP, and AUSA Sewell in this case," stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Protecting the children of the Western District from predators like the defendant is a top priority of this office. We remain vigilant and will continue to investigate and aggressively prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit our children."
“The significant sentence imposed on Corey Stephens sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. Stephens will serve 20 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts," stated HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “HSI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue predators who traumatize and victimize children and maintain our vigilance to bring them to justice."
The case was investigated by the HSI and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Madison Sewell of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was 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.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys