A Tennessee man will spend the next ten years in federal prison after traveling across state lines with the intent to meet a child for sexual purposes. U.S. District Court officials finalized the sentencing of 52-year-old Shawn Christopher Powell on Thursday, February 19, 2026, marking the conclusion of a multi-agency investigation that spanned several months.
Court records detail a digital trail that began in May 2025. Over the course of that summer, Powell engaged in persistent communication with an individual he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Powell’s messages were sexually explicit and detailed his plans to engage in illegal acts with the minor. The interaction culminated in August 2025, when Powell drove from his home in Tennessee to Iowa to facilitate a meeting…