A 25-year-old man who was caught with hundreds of videos and images depicting child pornography, including some that featured toddlers and infants, has pled guilty to multiple felony charges and now faces up to 40 years in prison.
Troy Mitchell McGowan, of Deltona, pled guilty to the charges this week in the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida. McGowan was indicted in May on three counts of distribution, two counts of reception, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse images and videos, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
According to the plea agreement, McGowan used a chat application to download images and videos depicting children being sexually abused. He then took those images and distributed them over the internet.
In one instance, McGowan distributed the materials to an undercover agent working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On March 29, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at McGowan’s residence and located a phone that belonged to McGowan. A forensic review of the phone revealed at least 769 videos containing child sexual abuse material.
That included at least 66 images depicting the abuse of children under the age of 12, including infants and toddlers. According to authorities, the images also depicted bondage and bestiality.
McGowan faces a minimum, mandatory sentence of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 6, 2023.