TAMPA, Fla. – A Brandon resident and attorney has been sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison for his role in distributing child sexual abuse material.
Senior U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday handed down the sentence to Benjamin Crawford, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2025.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Merryday ordered Crawford to serve 25 years of supervised release and formally register as a sex offender. As part of the sentencing, Crawford must also forfeit the cellphone and laptop he used to commit the offenses.
READ: Death Date Set For Condemned Killer In Brutal 1989 Florida Slaying
According to federal court filings, Crawford utilized a social media application to distribute illegal material involving minors. He also used his personal devices to access and view similar content.
Authorities noted that Crawford attempted to obstruct the investigation; before law enforcement could conduct a search related to his activities, he deleted various applications from his phone in an effort to hide evidence.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with agents in both Tampa and Tennessee handling the inquiry. Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel prosecuted the case.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
