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Ruskin Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years for CSAM Offenses

Michael Paul Linnan was sentenced on August 12, 2026, in Florida federal court.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 9:33 a.m. ET
On August 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven 76-year-old Michael Paul Linnan of Ruskin, Florida, to seven years and three months in federal prison, according to official records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Linnan pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026, to transportation, distribution, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Judge Scriven also ordered Linnan to forfeit a cellphone used in the commission of the offenses. According to court documents, Linnan used an encrypted messaging platform to receive and distribute more than 100 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, including images and videos of young children. Official records state that he stored hundreds of videos on his phone and transported images into his online photo storage account. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Muriel Moore as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 13:33current

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