A Bradenton man has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison on charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and for the possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). James Stephen Ahearn, Jr., aged 33, received the sentencing following a guilty plea earlier this year on May 5, according to a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven issued the sentence, which totals 15 years and 8 months. The case unraveled when investigations revealed that Ahearn had used the social media app Snapchat to falsely present himself as a 19-year-old to a 14-year-old victim, persuading them to partake in sexually explicit activities. The charges came to light following FBI search warrants that helped to locate additional evidence of similar improper communications with more minor females on Ahearn’s cellphone. This troubling behavior extended to include images of CSAM that were requested by and sent to Ahearn.
The case, investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry, involved the online exploitation of minors…