Child Sexual Abuse Images Spark Charges Against Tarpon Springs Man

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A federal grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old Tarpon Springs man accused of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials, according to the Department of Justice.

If convicted on all counts, Ian Grantz faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison, said the DOJ. The indictment also notifies Grantz that the DOJ intends to demand he turn over an iPhone it said is traceable to the offenses.

According to the indictment and court proceedings, an investigation began after the FBI said Grantz posted images on his Tumblr account depicting infants and toddlers being sexually abused.

Agents conducted a search of him home during which Grantz provided his cell phone for forensic review. An analysis of the cell phone revealed additional child sexual abuse material images, including pornographic images of a child living in the Tampa Bay area, said the Department of Justice in a news release Monday.

According to court documents, Grantz admitted to distributing and possessing child sexual abuse images.