Tallahassee Sun

Cosme Martin Hernandez, Jr., 34, of Panama City Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”

In December 2023, law enforcement officers conducting covert operations downloaded files of child pornography that were being actively shared over the internet from Hernandez’s residential computer in Panama City Beach. On February 6, 2024, Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Hernandez’s residence. Law enforcement quickly located electronic devices containing child pornography on-site, leading to Hernandez's arrest. Several seized devices were subsequently analyzed by an HSI computer specialist, revealing that Hernandez had received and possessed over 21,000 images and videos of child pornography within approximately four months—files that exploited children as young as toddlers. At the time of the offense, Hernandez was an active-duty military member who had served about fifteen years in the United States Navy; he has since been discharged under other than honorable conditions.

“This sentence sends a strong message that those who exploit children will face justice,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “Child pornography is not just about images; it’s tied to the broader fight against human trafficking. Our collaboration with federal agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is crucial to this fight, and we will continue to work together to protect our children and hold these dangerous criminals accountable.”

Hernandez's prison sentence will be followed by ten years of supervised release during which he will be required to register as a sex offender and comply with all sex offender conditions. The Court also ordered forfeiture of various electronic devices used in committing these offenses.

The conviction resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Callahan prosecuted the case.

This case was part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local resources.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or for details on public court documents visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.