A 38-year-old man is facing up to forty years in prison after pleading guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography.
Christopher Tristan McKie pled guilty last week to charges of distribution and possession of child sex abuse material, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
According to a plea agreement, law enforcement authorities received a CyberTip regarding a user distributing child sex abuse images and videos through social media. During their investigation, authorities determined that McKie was the original uploader of that child pornography.
While executing a search warrant at McKie’s residence, law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices belonging to McKie, including a damaged laptop under his bed, and an external hard drive that was broken into pieces and stashed behind a freezer.
Law enforcement also found a folder containing McKie’s handwritten stories describing the sexual abuse of children between the ages of five and sixteen years old. A forensic examination of McKie’s devices revealed several videos and images of child sexual abuse materials.
During an interview with law enforcement, McKie admitted to viewing and trading child pornography.
McKie faces a minimum mandatory term of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison for the distribution offense, and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023.