Byhalia man convicted of online activities with minor

Credit: US Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Mississippi

September 10, 2024 – A Byhalia man was sentenced today to more than 15 years in prison for transmitting sexual acts with a minor over the internet.

According to court documents, Thomas Taylor, 29, was identified as part of Operation Renewed Hope, an operation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations to identify victims and perpetrators of known child abuse videos. Taylor admitted to using a mobile video chat application to communicate live with others over the Internet. While live on video, Taylor masturbated and exposed the genitals and anus of a minor to the public. The incident was recorded and has appeared in other investigations involving trafficking in child abuse material.

On Tuesday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Taylor to 200 months in prison, followed by five years of probation.

“Child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation often face a lifetime of far-reaching consequences as a result of the reprehensible acts committed by their perpetrators,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “This Office is committed to holding accountable the individuals who sexually exploit minors, and we appreciate the outstanding work of HSI and AUSA King to do just that.”

“These despicable crimes are beyond comprehension,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “This criminal will now be held accountable for his heinous crimes.”

The Department of Homeland Security investigated the matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, and to identify and rescue victims. The goal of Project Safe Childhood is to reduce the incidence of child sexual exploitation.