Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) — A Grand Bay man has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, according to federal prosecutors.
Austin Dickens, 30, was sentenced on March 13 to 200 months in prison following his conviction for distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama announced in a news release.
According to court records, Dickens used social media platforms in May 2024 to contact individuals and offer thousands of illicit images for sale. Investigators determined he attempted to sell as many as 6,000 images involving young children, including victims as young as four years old, for prices ranging from $10 to $50.
Authorities said Dickens sent sample images to potential buyers in an effort to entice purchases and received payment for the material he distributed.
In addition to his prison sentence, Dickens will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his incarceration. As part of his sentence, he must undergo mental health and substance abuse treatment and will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The court also ordered Dickens to pay $3,000 in restitution.
Federal officials emphasized their continued commitment to identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in the exploitation of children.