Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Jacksonville man with a prior conviction for child sex offenses, Kevin John Merritt, 63, has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for producing videos and photos depicting the sexual abuse of a minor child.
Conviction Details and Sentencing
Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard handed down the sentence on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Merritt had pleaded guilty on November 7, 2024, to charges of coercing and using a minor child to create child sexual abuse material. He has remained in custody since his arrest on March 16, 2023.
Merritt is a registered child sex offender, having been previously convicted in 2011 on federal charges for possessing videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. At the time of his latest offense, he was serving a 30-year term of supervised release stemming from that earlier conviction.
Investigation and Evidence
The investigation began with a CyberTipline Report received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) from Facebook. The report indicated that files containing child sexual abuse materials were sent via Facebook Messenger on September 14, 2022, from a user identified as “Jackie Frost” to another Facebook user in Jacksonville.
This report was forwarded to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). Through subsequent investigation, JSO identified Merritt as the individual behind the “Jackie Frost” Facebook account. On March 16, 2023, JSO detectives executed a search warrant at Merritt’s residence, where he was arrested.
Law enforcement seized several electronic devices, including Merritt’s cellphone. A review of the cellphone revealed an email account linked to the “Jackie Frost” Facebook account and other items attributable to Merritt. Crucially, the device also contained numerous photos and videos depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of an identified minor child, which Merritt had produced using his own cellphone. Merritt’s hand was visible in two of the incriminating videos.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
This case was a collaborative effort, investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville. Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Elisibeth Adams prosecuted the case.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006. This initiative is dedicated to combating the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse across the United States.
Merritt’s substantial sentence underscores the severe legal consequences for individuals who produce and distribute child sexual abuse material, particularly those with a history of similar offenses.
