JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida woman has been sentenced to more than two decades in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material following a Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force investigation.
Meggin Anne Evans, 35, of Middleburg, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty March 1.
“The sentencing of Meggin Evans for production of child sexual abuse material, and her husband’s sentencing earlier this year for distribution, is a testament to the commitment of the detectives and special agents who work relentlessly to combat the sexual abuse of children,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “Working alongside our partners at the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, we remain committed in our resolve to identify and rescue child victims and bringing child sexual predators to justice.”
According to court documents, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after receiving information about five files of child sexual abuse material that had been sent over a social media application. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed that the files were sent from within the Putnam County Jail.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office connected the social media account to Brandon Paul Smolinski, Evans’ husband, who was working for a transportation company that does work inside the jail. The company provided Smolinski’s work schedule and confirmed that he was working in the jail on the dates and times the files had been shared from within the jail.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to request assistance, as Smolinski’s residence was located in Middleburg. Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigators discovered that the internet service at Smolinski’s residence was also used to upload files of child sexual abuse material using the same social media application.
Detectives from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office approached Smolinski in the parking lot at the Putnam County Jail. Smolinski admitted to distributing child sexual abuse material. He also told detectives that he had watched child sexual abuse material with Evans and that he had sent Evans child sexual abuse material from the jail.
During a forensic review of Smolinski’s cellphone, law enforcement discovered multiple files of child sexual abuse, including a video sent to Evans on June 27, 2022. In addition, they located several chat messages between Smolinski and Evans, during which they talked about exploiting children and their sexual attraction to children. On Oct. 28, 2021, Smolinski and Evans discussed performing specific sex acts on children and made future plans to groom children for sex. Evans then sent Smolinski a photograph of child sexual abuse that she had taken of a child to whom Evans had access.
Smolinksi was sentenced in June 2023 to 17 years and six months in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material.
This Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force case was investigated by HSI Jacksonville, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington.
The Northeast Florida (NEFL) INTERCEPT Task Force is a unique partnership that takes a collaborative and coordinated approach to work together at all three levels of government, alongside private sector partners, to rescue children from sexual exploitation. The NEFL INTERCEPT is a unique public–private partnership where nonprofit organizations provide financial, technical and other resources to regional law enforcement partners dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. Support from Operation Light Shine and partner donors like the Tim Tebow Foundation allow law enforcement agencies to better serve Northeast Florida communities and the many victims of human trafficking and child exploitation. The collaborative approach of bringing together the experience and expertise of local, state and federal law enforcement professionals greatly enhances the ability to combat the many difficulties and challenges presented by the complexities of child exploitation and human trafficking investigations.
Members of the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force comprise members of HSI Jacksonville, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Duval County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Roger Handberg and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect.
To report information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website. To report to law enforcement in the Jacksonville area, call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.