United States of America v. Gerald Scott Collins

Athens, Georgia, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of child pornography.

Gerald Scott Collins, 56, of Monroe, Georgia, was accused of possessing CSAM, including 2,754 images of previously identified victims of child exploitation and abuse from across the world.

Law enforcement became aware of Collins’s possession of CSAM in 2022. Homeland Security Investigations agents obtained and executed search warrants for the seized electronic devices, including a laptop computer, tablets, USB drives, external hard drives and SD cards. Nine of Collins’ devices contained a total of 9,996 images, 19 videos and an additional 791 documents containing CSAM.

The CSAM involved prepubescent females under the age of 12, including toddlers, who were subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation. Some of the images depicted violent and sadistic online exploitation. Law enforcement agents forwarded the images and videos to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for comparison using the organization’s Child Recognition and Identification System. This system, in partnership with national and international law enforcement, helps identify victims and perpetrators worldwide by compiling previously identified victims into distinct series. NCMEC determined that 2,754 images of previously identified victims were found across 226 named series from the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

HSI and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett is prosecuting the case for the Government.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 132 months Imprisonment to be served consecutively to any term of imprisonment that may be imposed in Oconee County Superior Court Case NO. SUCR20250133, Walton County Superior Court Case NO. 23CR0874-3, and Walton County Warrant NOS. 2022-1275 and 2022-1276 pending for felony firearm offenses. 5 years Supervised Release; $100.00 MAF; $180,500 Restitution