Jordan Anthony Hughes, a 24-year-old resident of Sacramento, has pleaded guilty to producing child sexual abuse materials. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that in September 2022, Hughes used a child under the age of 12 for sexually explicit conduct to create visual depictions in Sacramento. His abusive actions towards the minor began as early as 2017. Additionally, Hughes manipulated other minors online into sending him explicit images and videos by pretending to be an underage male. He also distributed such materials, often claiming to instruct or assist his victims in performing sexual acts. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a large collection of child sexual abuse materials.
The investigation was conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which includes the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is handling the prosecution.
Hughes remains in custody and will be sentenced on July 10, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and could receive up to 30 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine. The final sentence will be determined based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project involves federal, state, and local resources aimed at prosecuting offenders and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood and internet safety education resources, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.