John Edward Prigmore, 40, of Fort Lawn, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, who also ordered Prigmore to serve a lifetime of court-ordered supervision following his release and pay $3,000 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation began in May 2023 when the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) executed a search warrant at Prigmore’s residence. The action followed a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which indicated that accounts linked to Prigmore contained child sexual abuse material. Authorities searched several electronic devices belonging to Prigmore and found illegal content.
Prigmore had previously been convicted on state charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals involved in these crimes and to help identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.
“The term ‘child pornography’ is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, ‘child sexual abuse material’ is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase ‘child pornography.'”
