GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Trinity Joy Johnson, 26, has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of sexual exploitation of children involving the production of child pornography, 15 counts of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea.
“Thanks to the outstanding investigative work by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, my office was able to aggressively prosecute this defendant to ensure she is held fully accountable for her disgusting crimes victimizing an innocent child,” U.S. Attorney Heekin said.
According to court records, Johnson used her cellphone to take sexually explicit images of a toddler in her care. Prosecutors said she then shared the images, along with other child pornography files, with strangers online while engaging in sexually explicit discussions. Investigators found more than 100 files depicting child sexual abuse material during a search of her phone.
For each child pornography production count, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years. Each distribution count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The possession charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 23, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida, before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting it.
The prosecution was brought under Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to fight the growing problem of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006, the program is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS and coordinates federal, state and local resources to identify, apprehend and prosecute people who exploit children online, while also working to identify and rescue victims. More information is available at Justice.gov/PSC.