KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Knoxville man has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for his involvement in the production of child pornography, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Matthew Estes, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of the production of child pornography in a plea agreement. The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, will see Estes spend 720 months in prison. In addition to his lengthy prison term, Estes will be subject to lifetime supervision following his release. He will also be required to register with the state sex offender registries and comply with specific conditions imposed on sex offenders.
The investigation into Estes began in October 2017 when the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) was contacted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding a disturbing video that had been posted on the dark web. The video showed Estes with a 16-month-old victim, and authorities began working to identify the individuals involved.
In May 2017, KPD received a second video from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, which also depicted Estes and the same victim. The video was discovered on a device owned by a suspect who had been charged with possessing child pornography. These findings triggered a deeper investigation, which ultimately led to Estes being charged.
The case highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in investigating and addressing child exploitation. Law enforcement agencies across borders collaborated to ensure that Estes was held accountable for his actions.
Authorities have emphasized the ongoing need for vigilance and collaboration to combat child exploitation, particularly in the dark web, where such material can often circulate undetected.
This conviction serves as a reminder of the relentless work carried out by law enforcement to safeguard children and bring perpetrators to justice.
