A Harris County resident and a former contractor at Fort Moore have been sentenced to federal prison following investigations under Project Safe Childhood. The initiative, launched by the Department of Justice in 2006, aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Patrick John Irvine, 22, from Shiloh, Georgia, received a 120-month prison sentence followed by ten years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to one count of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity on October 15, 2024. Terric Taylor, 28, from Fortson, Georgia, was sentenced to 97 months in prison with ten years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography on the same date.
Both individuals will be required to register as sex offenders upon their release. U.S. District Judge Clay Land presided over both cases. "Our office has zero tolerance for people who prey on children," stated Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker.
The FBI and local law enforcement played key roles in these investigations. "With a victim-centered approach, the FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners," said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke.
Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley emphasized the collaboration between different levels of law enforcement: "These cases show how local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are working together."
Court documents reveal that Irvine met a 12-year-old girl through Snapchat and later transported her from Alabama to Georgia. The girl's family reported her missing after discovering frequent calls between her and Irvine's number.
In Taylor's case, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a Cybertip about his activities on social media platform X. Investigations revealed Taylor had numerous files of child sexual abuse material on his phone.
Project Safe Childhood coordinates efforts across various jurisdictions to address child exploitation crimes effectively. For more information about this initiative, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted these cases for the government.