HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – James Falzone, 56, of Wimauma, has been sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington also ordered Falzone to pay $30,000 in restitution to victims and register as a sex offender. Falzone had previously pleaded guilty to the charges on December 4, 2024.
The case unfolded on October 31, 2022, when Falzone attempted to re-enter the United States at Port Canaveral after returning from an international cruise.
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During a routine border search of his cellphone, law enforcement discovered over 1,500 images of CSAM. Further investigation revealed a chat log on the device indicating Falzone had received the illicit material from another individual.
“Another child predator behind bars,” stated ICE HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “Thanks to the unique border search authorities of our special agents, this criminal was caught red-handed.”
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Roberts and Abigail K. King.
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