FORMER TENNESSEE SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR PRODUCING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A former Tennessee sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after an investigation found that he posed as a child online and manipulated eight minors across several states into producing child sexual abuse material.

Johnathan Nathaniel Allen, 27, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, received the sentence after investigators determined that he used multiple online platforms and a fabricated teenage identity to target children while he was employed as a sheriff’s deputy in Tennessee.

Allen had worked as a deputy since 2021.

The investigation began after a South Carolina father discovered concerning text messages on his 13-year-old daughter’s cellphone and contacted police. The York County Sheriff’s Office and FBI determined that Allen had been posing online as a 14-year-old boy named “Josh.”

Investigators found that Allen used Instagram, Reddit, the TextMe messaging platform and the Roblox gaming platform to contact and exploit minors.

Authorities determined that Allen presented himself as a child, developed relationships with minors and pressured them into producing sexually explicit images and videos. In one instance, he threatened to distribute intimate images of a child if she stopped communicating with him.

Investigators also documented how Allen attempted to manipulate victims emotionally. He told children that he loved them, described them as beautiful, said he was proud of them and assured them that he would not harm them.

One child rejected Allen’s requests for sexual material eight times. Allen continued pursuing the child and eventually communicated with the minor by telephone through a virtual number associated with TextMe. During that call, investigators said Allen pressured the child into producing child sexual abuse material.

The investigation uncovered further conduct involving another minor whom Allen asked to engage in sexual acts involving a dog. Authorities also found that he attempted to recruit the child’s cousins, friends and family members to participate in sexual activity with the minor.

One victim described Allen as “begging” for sexual material. Another child was crying during the production of material because she did not want to participate.

Allen later instructed one of the children to delete material so that others would not discover it. A parent recovered deleted content and provided it to law enforcement, helping investigators develop evidence in the case.

Federal agents later searched Allen’s residence and recovered his cellphone. Investigators found Reddit and TextMe applications, evidence connected to the fake “Josh” identity and child sexual abuse material on the device.

Authorities also discovered communications between Allen and the South Carolina victim, including calls placed after the York County Sheriff’s Office had seized the child’s phone.

Investigators recovered clothing from Allen’s bedroom matching clothing worn by “Josh” in explicit images that had been sent to a minor. Authorities also determined that a photograph posted by the “Josh” account on Reddit depicted Allen when he was younger.

Investigators confirmed eight victims residing in South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri and New York. Some of the children were as young as sixth grade.

“This defendant was sworn to serve and protect, instead he deceived and exploited,” U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina said. Stirling said the sentence demonstrates that individuals who exploit children in South Carolina will be held accountable regardless of who they are or where they live.

FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla said Allen went to extreme lengths to conceal his identity in order to victimize children and said the FBI and its law enforcement partners would continue working to protect minors and pursue offenders.

York County Sheriff Tony Breeden credited Director Hamilton, Lt. Alex Clark and their staff for their efforts to identify and prosecute individuals targeting children.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Allen to 25 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

Allen was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a victim and an additional $4,000 to a victim services fund. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to coordinate federal, state and local efforts against child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program focuses on identifying victims, locating offenders and prosecuting individuals who exploit children through internet-based communications and other technologies.

The FBI Columbia Field Office and York County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Hamilton County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.

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