A Mississippi man, Avery Freel, aged 23, from Ocean Springs, pled guilty to attempted receipt of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors. The plea was entered on April 10, 2025, before United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon. The charges fall under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2), as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Freel is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, with the potential to serve a maximum of twenty years in prison. Additionally, he could face fines of up to $250,000. Upon release, Freel will be subjected to a term of supervised release ranging from five years to life, and he will be required to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice started in May 2006, aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates efforts across federal, state, and local levels to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children online, as well as identifying and rescuing victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office acknowledges the assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hammond Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations in this case. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.