Jackson man sentenced to over 6 years in prison for possession of child pornography
PRESS RELEASE FROM UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (WDTN):
JACKSON, Tenn. – Anthony Flowers, 59, of Jackson, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
In September 2025, an internal auditor with Gerdau Long Steel of North America discovered that an employee in its Jackson office was downloading large data files to his work computer. Using data loss prevention software, the auditor was able to determine that Flowers was the employee in question.
The auditor found that Flowers had downloaded 90 data files over the previous week, at least nine of which contained blatant child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The auditor determined that Flowers utilized his work laptop at his residence and offloaded the data files to an external hard drive. The auditor subsequently notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the incident.
A search warrant for Flowers’s residence in Jackson was later obtained and executed. During the search, Flowers agreed to speak with FBI agents regarding his activities. Flowers admitted to viewing CSAM on his work computer and transferring the material to an external hard drive, which he later deleted from the hard drive. FBI agents in Tampa, Florida were able to meet the auditor at Gerdau’s office in that area and obtained a thumb drive containing many of the files located during the internal audit.
Upon reviewing the files, FBI agents discovered that Flowers had downloaded 40 images and nine videos that contained blatant CSAM, including images of prepubescent minors and minors under 12 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct, material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, and material that portrayed the sexual abuse or exploitation of infants and toddlers.
Following Flowers’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal information charging him with possession of child pornography in November 2025, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Flowers to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Judge Anderson also ordered that Flowers pay a special assessment in the amount of $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Let this sentence serve notice on those who use the internet and electronic means to access materials that exploit, abuse, and victimize minor children: You cannot hide, we will track you down, and you will be held accountable for such disturbing and predatory criminal conduct.”
This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson Police Department, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
For more local news, click here.
