Austin Tennant, 29, of Phoenix, New York, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman announced Thursday. Tennant was convicted after a four-day trial in February 2024.
The trial revealed that from September 2022 to January 2023, Tennant acquired hundreds of videos and thousands of images of child pornography from the Internet and directly from child victims. He redistributed these materials to others, including to children, to coerce them into providing him with sexually explicit content.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes handed down the 15-year sentence and ordered Tennant to serve an additional 15 years of supervised release after his prison term. Upon release, Tennant must register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Syracuse, with support from the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood, initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006, aims to combat child exploitation by coordinating efforts between federal, state, and local resources. The program focuses on locating and prosecuting offenders and rescuing victims of child exploitation.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood and efforts to combat child exploitation, visit Project Safe Childhood.
Tennant’s sentencing underscores the commitment of law enforcement to protect children from online predators and bring offenders to justice. The severity of the penalties reflects the grave nature of Tennant’s crimes and the ongoing dedication to safeguarding vulnerable populations.
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