Gainesville, FL – Stephen Christopher Young, a 58-year-old resident of Gainesville, has been sentenced to over a decade in prison for his involvement in child pornography offenses. Young received a 121-month prison term after being found guilty of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography.
The sentencing underscores the firm stance taken by federal authorities against crimes involving the exploitation of children. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Michelle Spaven, emphasized the commitment to prosecuting individuals who engage in or facilitate such crimes. “Crimes against children are unacceptable,” Spaven stated, highlighting the role of offenders in perpetuating abuse.
In March 2024, a federal search warrant led investigators to uncover Young’s activities at his residence. They discovered he had been exchanging child pornography through applications designed to evade detection using end-to-end encryption. Following his prison sentence, Young will face lifetime supervised release and must pay $20,500 in restitution. He is also required to register as a sex offender.
Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott stressed the importance of safeguarding children from sexual abuse, reinforcing the community’s dedication to protecting its youngest members.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Gainesville Police Department’s Internet Crime Against Children Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith Steer and Adam Hapner led the prosecution.
Jason Carley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville, reiterated the agency’s unwavering commitment to removing predators from communities. “Let this be a lesson to others who prey on vulnerable kids,” Carley noted, emphasizing the FBI’s resolve to pursue and hold perpetrators accountable.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative coordinates efforts across federal, state, and local levels to apprehend and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims.
For further information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. More details about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
