Matthew Allen Kitchen, a 39-year-old resident of Youngstown, Florida, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “The distribution of child sexual abuse material has the effect of re-victimizing the exploited children each and every time the image, video, or depiction is shared. I deeply appreciate the dedication of our state and federal law enforcement partners who tirelessly investigate these cases to keep our children safe from predators like this defendant, and my office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these cases with the full force of the law.”
According to court records, law enforcement officers identified that child pornography was being distributed online through a peer-to-peer network. An internet protocol address linked to Kitchen’s home in Youngstown led investigators to execute a federal search warrant on March 13, 2024. During the search, authorities found Kitchen’s laptop containing numerous files of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno commented: “This sentence reinforces our commitment to protecting our children from predators who exploit children on the internet. Transmitting child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and a serious crime with lasting consequences for its victims. This outcome reflects the hard work of HSI investigators, our law enforcement partners, and prosecutors, and serves as a clear warning that anyone who targets children online will be held fully accountable.”
After his prison term, Kitchen will serve ten years under supervised release; violations could result in further incarceration. He must also pay restitution to victims and register as a sex offender.
The investigation involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations with support from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation using federal, state, and local resources to find offenders and rescue victims (more information at www.projectsafechildhood.gov).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices serving as principal litigators for the nation under direction from the Attorney General (information available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html). Public court documents can be accessed via the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
