"ThePedoMan" Sentenced To Prison For Possession Of Child Porn

Athens, Georgia— A Walton County, Georgia man, known as “ThePedoMan” on child pornography websites, was sentenced in federal court to 41 months in prison, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. John McCurdy, a/k/a John McCurdy-Walker, 27, of Loganville, Georgia previously pleaded guilty to the indictment charging him with one count possession of child pornography, and was sentenced on October 9, 2019 by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Law enforcement at every level remain relentless in tracking down and arresting the makers and the possessors of child pornography in Georgia, and we will continue to prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent allowed by the law,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “Predators who view child pornography are victimizing the innocent and directly fueling abhorrent abuse. I want to thank the FBI and the GBI for their work protecting Georgia children.”

“The victimization of a child doesn’t end when that child’s pornographic images are recorded. Every time an individual like McCurdy possesses those images and views them for personal gratification, that child is victimized again, and again,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a priority to protect our most vulnerable assets, our children.”

“The GBI and the Georgia ICAC Task Force will continue to diligently work with our local, state and federal partners to protect our children,” said Debbie Garner, Special Agent in Charge and Commander, Georgia ICAC Task Force. “The committed network of law enforcement officers that investigate the possession, distribution and production of online child sexual abuse material is dedicated to finding and prosecuting those who sexually exploit our children.”

According to the stipulation of fact entered in court, at or around December 3, 2015, Mr. McCurdy used a computer or interactive computer service to access, possess and view videos and still photos of between 150 and 300 images of child pornography, including images featuring prepubescent minors. According to information presented in court, Mr. McCurdy admitted that he has been looking at child pornography since he was 14-years-old and that he accessed child pornography through the dark web under the user name “ThePedoMan”. Mr. McCurdy’s defense argued for a downward variance on the federal sentencing guidelines recommended for the charge. That request was denied by the Court.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ICAC Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndie M. Freeman prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.