Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
Jacksonville, Florida / Tuesday, September 8, 2026 – Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers received a cybertip that a social media user from Jacksonville had uploaded files of CSAM. After reviewing the information in the cybertip, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the social media account and learned that it belonged to Whitaker. After reviewing Whitaker’s Facebook account, further evidence led to a search warrant of Whitaker’s home where his cellphone was seized and searched. Whitaker’s phone contained more than 100 images and videos depicting CSAM.
At the time of this offense, Whitaker was on probation following a Florida state prison sentence for possession of child pornography. In addition, since Whitaker has been classified as a sexually violent predator, once he serves his prison sentence, under Florida law, he will be committed to a security facility for control, care, and treatment.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
