Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
FORT MYERS, Fla. – A North Fort Myers man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material. Patrick William Cotton, 48, received a sentence of six years and six months from U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber, along with a lifetime of supervised release and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Sentencing Details and Charges
Cotton pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025, to charges related to knowingly possessing and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The sentencing underscores the severe penalties for such offenses, aiming to deter similar crimes and protect vulnerable populations.
The Investigation Unfolds
According to court documents, Cotton engaged in these illicit activities between February 14 and November 6, 2024. During this period, he actively sought out and viewed child sexual abuse material through various social media applications and the internet.
The investigation began in February 2024 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerted authorities to a cybertip. An electronic service provider reported that Cotton had uploaded videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from his cellphone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation subsequently executed a search warrant for Cotton’s social media account, which confirmed the presence of videos and images depicting child sexual abuse. In November 2024, FBI agents searched Cotton’s residence, seizing two cellphones.
During an interview, Cotton admitted to agents that he had accessed his social media account via his cellphone to collect CSAM. He further confessed to receiving links to CSAM in various social media groups and paying an individual for child sexual abuse material on another application.
A forensic examination of Cotton’s seized cellphones later corroborated these admissions, revealing extensive child sexual abuse material.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal law enforcement to combat child exploitation and bring offenders to justice. The collaborative investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava prosecuted the case, which culminated in Cotton’s conviction and sentencing, reinforcing the commitment to prosecuting those who exploit children.
