Columbia County man pleads guilty in district court to child pornography charges

AUGUSTA, Georgia: An Evans, Georgia man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in federal court to child pornography charges. Ryan Thomas Manley , 44, of Evans, pled guilty to six counts of Production with Intent to Distribute Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. As described in the plea agreement, from January to February 2025, Manley produced morphed images of real minor victims with intent to distribute sexually explicit conduct through electronic means. The guilty plea subjects Manley to a statutory penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment for the six counts of Production with Intent to Distribute Child Pornography and up to 20 years imprisonment for the guilty plea of Possession of Child Pornography. Additional penalties include substantial fines, registration as a sex offender, and a maximum life term of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The children depicted in this CSAM case are not anonymous victims; they are real children whose suffering will continue long after this defendant is incarcerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Today’s guilty plea is a reminder that every child deserves justice, dignity, and protection. This office along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to investigate and prosecute those who possess or produce CSAM.” If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). “By receiving and intending to distribute these images, Manley participated in the continuing abuse and exploitation of children,” said Supervisory Senior Special Agent Matt Ploskunak of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta Resident Agency. “Children must be protected from sexual exploitation, and we remain committed to investigating the possession and distribution of child pornography.” This case was investigated by the FBI, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.