A federal grand jury has indicted Thomas Ford, 61, of St. Petersburg, Florida, on charges of accessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with the intent to view it. The indictment covers alleged activity between July 25, 2024, and March 19, 2025. If convicted, Ford could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Authorities also intend to forfeit two cellphones said to have been used in connection with the offense.
According to court documents, Ford is accused of accessing material that contained visual depictions of a child under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Muriel Moore will prosecute the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates resources from federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals who exploit children and help identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
