A Russellville man has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for attempted production of child pornography, according to an announcement from Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The sentence was issued by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Jackson Whitt, 29, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 7, 2024, facing 17 counts of attempted production of child pornography, five counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. On February 6, 2025, Whitt pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, he received a sentence of ten years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation began after a parent reported to local law enforcement that her high school daughter had lent her phone to a friend who needed access to Instagram because her own phone was broken. After retrieving the phone, the mother and daughter discovered explicit messages between the friend and an adult male on Instagram. Authorities later identified the adult as Whitt.
Investigators found that Whitt had sent numerous sexual images and messages to the minor victim and requested sexually explicit photographs and videos from her. On January 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Whitt’s residence and seized electronic devices containing approximately 150 explicit images and at least two videos involving the minor victim. Investigators also found additional videos depicting child sexual abuse material involving other children.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse,” stated the press release. “Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.” More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Eufaula (Oklahoma) Police Department; Pope County Sheriff’s Office; FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and Arkansas State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Shelby Shelton prosecuted this case.
