Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Wesley Kenneth McVay, (41, Orlando) to 17 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. McVay, a registered sex offender, was originally charged by criminal complaint on March 2, 2018, after a search warrant was conducted at his home. He pleaded guilty on June 19, 2018.    

According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, McVay came to the attention of law enforcement after he distributed child pornography to an undercover law enforcement officer using a file-sharing program. McVay’s child pornography collection included 44 images and 38 videos. Many of these images depicted the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12.

“Wesley Kenneth McVay will be incarcerated for 17 years for his horrific acts. This case exemplifies HSI’s ability to coordinate and pursue investigative efforts with our state law enforcement partners,” said James Spero, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to bringing to justice those who sexually exploit children.”

“FDLE’s dedicated agents are committed to working with our federal partners to keep our community safe,” said FDLE Orlando Special Agent in Charge Danny Banks. “We will continue to arrest those who take advantage of our children in appalling ways, robbing them of their innocent nature.”

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.