In Knoxville, Tennessee, 24-year-old Nathan Hart was sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing and accessing child pornography, as announced by the United States Department of Justice. The investigation began in May 2023 following tips about child pornography distribution online, which led authorities to Hart’s computer and internet service.

A search of his home uncovered multiple files, including at least 24 videos of sexually explicit material and numerous images of both known and unknown child victims from around the world, obtained from online sources. As part of a plea agreement, Hart admitted guilt to one count of accessing child pornography with intent to view it.

In addition to his prison term, he was ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution to his victims. After his release, Hart will face 20 years of supervised release, must register as a sex offender, and comply with special sex offender conditions. The investigation was supported by the Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations.