A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse materials. U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger issued the sentence to Aidan Francis Akins, age 31, following his guilty plea on October 2, 2024.
The case began in April 2023 when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Jacksonville received information from an undercover operation involving a social media chat application where a user was offering to sell child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The investigation led law enforcement officers to Akins, who was identified as purchasing these illegal materials.
On June 16, 2023, an HSI special agent obtained and executed a federal search warrant at Akins’ residence. During the search, Akins admitted he had communicated with someone selling CSAM and acknowledged making multiple purchases from that individual. He told law enforcement that CSAM might still be present on his phone and stated he was aware that possessing and viewing such material is illegal. He also admitted to viewing CSAM approximately every two to four weeks.
Homeland Security Investigation Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker commented on the broader implications of these crimes: “The possession, trading, and viewing of child sexual abuse material from the darkest corners of the internet, makes these child predators complicit in the ongoing victimization of children,” said Hemker. “HSI, alongside our state and local partners, are committed to protecting children, hold their offenders accountable, and stop the cycle of harm these images perpetuate forever.”
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local efforts to identify offenders and protect victims. More details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
