TAMPA, Fla. — A Polk County man, and registered sex offender, has been indicted with the transportation and possession of child sex abuse material and possession of obscene visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct generated by artificial intelligence (AI) following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa.
James Oxley, 52, of Polk City, faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison for transporting child sex abuse material and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession and AI offenses. The indictment also notifies Oxley that the United States intends to forfeit a cellphone, which was used in the commission of the offense.
According to court documents, on Dec. 22, 2024, Oxley entered the Tampa seaport on board a cruise ship. The ship had traveled to two destinations in Mexico before returning to Tampa. Between Dec. 17 and 22, 2024, Oxley transported child sex abuse material. Agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted a search of Oxley’s cellphone, which he had traveled with, and observed images and videos of child exploitation. Beginning on an unknown date and continuing to Dec. 22, 2024, Oxley possessed images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including minors under 12 years of age. He also possessed AI generated images that appeared to depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Oxley was previously convicted in 2012 of three counts of possessing images showing the sexual performance by a child, in violation of Florida state laws.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by HSI Tampa and CBP. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
HSI Tampa’s area of responsibility, which includes 10 geographically strategic offices, covers more than 51,600 square miles of the total 65,757 square miles in the state of Florida. This region has more than 14.2 million people and includes 58 of the 67 counties. HSI Tampa also includes five of the 10 largest cities in Florida, 15 primary commercial service airports, and 11 seaports.
Learn more about HSI Tampa’s mission to increase public safety in Florida communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSITampa.