Michael Edward Terrell, 46, of Mobile, Alabama, has been sentenced to 135 months in prison. Terrell pleaded guilty on January 30, 2025, to attempting to receive and distribute child pornography.
Court documents revealed that Terrell was identified by an FBI online employee between August 22, 2017, and September 5, 2017, as someone distributing child pornography online. The FBI conducted a search of his residence, seizing electronic devices that contained child pornography.
Further, on December 3, 2019, a special agent from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was informed of Terrell's activity soliciting child pornography via Twitter. ALEA obtained content from Terrell's account, confirming that he engaged in discussions requesting explicit images.
Judge Steele handed down a 135-month prison term followed by 15 years of supervised release. Terrell is to receive sex offender treatment, alongside substance abuse and mental health treatment while imprisoned. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and must avoid contact with minors. Additionally, Terrell was ordered to pay $30,500 in restitution and $5,100 in special assessments to his victims.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. This initiative pools federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
More information on Project Safe Childhood is available at www.usdoj.gov/psc, and internet safety resources can be accessed at https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.