A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse materials. William Thomas Hogan, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to eight years and one month after pleading guilty on April 10, 2025.
The case began in December 2023 when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched an inquiry into reports of illegal material found in a cloud account. HSI agents obtained a federal search warrant for the account linked to Hogan’s phone number, where they discovered multiple files containing child sexual abuse materials.
On November 15, 2024, an HSI agent approached Hogan in a parking lot and explained the investigation. Hogan agreed to speak with the agent and admitted there was likely “a bit” of such material on his cellphone. He consented to a search of his phone, which revealed several video files of child sexual abuse material. Hogan acknowledged saving these files on his device and said he had received them through social media group chats and direct messages.
“Every click, every download of child sexual abuse material is a crime against a child, evidence of real abuse that’s fueling a cycle of lifelong trauma,” said Homeland Security Investigation Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “HSI will use every tool at our disposal to find these predators, hold them accountable for their heinous actions, and break the perpetual cycle of child victimization.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations along with the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to fight increasing incidents of child exploitation and abuse across the country by bringing together resources from different levels of law enforcement agencies to apprehend offenders and help victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
