The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced a sentence in connection to a dark web administrator. 37-year-old Robert Alexander Shouse of Houston was sentenced for the production and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Shouse pleaded guilty two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography on June 6, 2024.

US District Judge Keith P. Ellison sentenced Shouse to 360 months in federal prison. During a hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding the seven victims including a minor victim. Shouse sexually abused, recorded, and distributed the images and videos.

The court also heard that Shouse secretly recorded minors, preyed on them online, and obtained child pornography from two other minors without their knowledge. One victim, who was a minor at the time, told the court that Shouse had filled a void for him and his grandmother after his parents were incarcerated.

Shouse was also ordered to pay $153,500 in restitution to the victims. He will serve 10 years of supervised release after completing his prison term.