Upstate Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Daniel Turner Widner, 26, of Roebuck, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material. *

Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing established that Widner was the moderator of an online chat group focused on the trading of child sexual abuse material. An undercover law enforcement officer infiltrated the group and posed as an 11-year-old girl. Widner sent the officer multiple images of child sexual abuse material. Believing he was chatting with a minor, Widner asked the undercover officer to be his girlfriend and to send him compromising pictures.

Further investigation led authorities to discover Widner's home address, and a search warrant was conducted. All of Widner's electronic devices were seized and law enforcement found over 80,000 images of child sexual abuse material on his devices.

Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Widner to 15 years' imprisonment and lifetime supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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NOTE: The term "child pornography" is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, "child sexual abuse material" is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase "child pornography."