Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – John J. Schugmann, 53, of Niceville, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the receipt of online child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the tireless vigilance of our state and federal law enforcement partners who monitor the online activity of sick individuals, like this defendant, who peddle in disgusting child sexual abuse material. This substantial prison sentence should serve as a warning to others who prey upon and exploit our children: my office will aggressively prosecute such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
Court documents reflect that in December 2024, an investigation began when law enforcement discovered the defendant was uploading child pornography to an online search engine. Following a search of his residence by law enforcement pursuant to a warrant, the defendant admitted to viewing and downloading child pornography. Law enforcement seized dozens of electronic devices, which contained thousands of illegal images and videos. Some of the images and videos contained the sexual exploitation of victims well under 12 years of age. The defendant is a registered sex offender who spent time in Florida State Prison for a prior child pornography conviction.
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of exploiting children online,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “Crimes committed behind a screen cause real-world harm, and this outcome demonstrates our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and pursuing those who use the digital space to abuse our children. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure those who engage in this conduct are brought to justice.”
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see partnerships like this one be able to remove this individual from our community,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “Every successful outcome like this one is a clear reminder that collaboration is our greatest tool in the fight against those who exploit and harm children.”
The defendant’s imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution to victims, and he will be required to continue to register as a sex offender.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.