A Desoto County man has been sentenced to serve 10 years in prison following his conviction for possession of child pornography.

Benjamin Adam McDonald, age 33, of Southaven, Mississippi, was arrested and prosecuted after a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was forwarded to the FBI, who investigated the matter in conjunction with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

A search warrant revealed the contents of McDonald’s child pornography collection. U.S. Attorney, William C. Lamar, together with FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze, and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, made the announcement following McDonald’s sentencing on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

In addition to sentencing McDonald to serve 10 years in prison, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson imposed a term of 10 years supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Davidson also ordered McDonald to register as a sex offender. McDonald will begin serving the sentence immediately.

Following the sentencing, Mississippi Attorney General Hood praised the joint work of investigators. “Partnerships between agencies are critical to protecting our children and putting predators behind bars,” General Hood said. “Thank you to Judge Davidson for sentencing this man to the maximum time. Our investigators continue to join forces to make sure Mississippi’s children are safe.”

“When our children are exploited for any reason, it steals their innocence and leaves lifelong scars,” said SAC Freeze. “Cases like these would not be successful without the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

U. S. Attorney Lamar reiterated the commitment of his office to prosecuting cases involving crimes against children. “Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime and the children who are victimized as a part of these crimes will often deal with trauma and repercussions from these offenses for the rest of their lives. We will continue to work diligently to help address the physical and emotional needs of the victims and to hold accountable those who would prey upon children and other vulnerable victims to satisfy their own lascivious interests.”

Lamar noted that the case was a joint investigation by the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and he thanked the agents who acted on the NCMEC tip that ultimately led to the search of McDonald’s residence. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Paul Roberts.