Ernest Vera, a former Cub Scout leader and baseball and football coach, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sex abuse videos on the Kik messaging application.
“No matter their age, child sex predators like Ernest Vera must be prosecuted and punished,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, this sex offender should remain in federal prison until he is nearly 80 years old, helping to achieve justice for his victims, prevent him from exploiting others, and deter others from similar misconduct.”
“Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation and victimization of a real child,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Vera actively sought out and traded these horrific images online, fueling the demand for child exploitation. The FBI remains committed to identifying those who prey on children and bringing them to justice, regardless of their age or where they operate.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In September 2021, FBI agents searched Ernest Vera’s home after learning he used social media to send and receive depictions of child sex abuse. During an interview at his home, Vera admitted that he used the Kik messaging application to view and trade sexually explicit images of children as young as thirteen years old. Vera also told investigators that he used Kik to encourage users whom he believed to be female teenagers living in India, Thailand, and South Africa to send sexual images of themselves, which they did. The FBI later searched Vera’s digital devices and his cellphone, where they found approximately 90 images and a dozen videos of child sex abuse.
On June 22, 2026, Ernest Vera, 73, of Powder Springs, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown to serve six years in prison without the possibility of parole. Vera was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing hearing. After he completes his prison sentence, Vera will be on supervised release for 10 years. Vera was convicted of distribution of child sexual abuse material after he pleaded guilty on January 7, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric Boylan prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.
This is a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
