In a landmark legal decision, Samuel Arthur Thompson, a registered sex offender, has been sentenced to 220 years in federal prison for heinous crimes including the production of child sexual abuse material and the hacking of the jumbotron at the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium.
The sentencing, delivered by a federal judge in Jacksonville, comes after Thompson’s conviction in November on multiple charges related to child exploitation and computer hacking, according to court records.
Thompson, 53, of St. Augustine, was arrested in early 2020 upon his deportation from the Philippines, where he had fled after the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence and seized several computers.
The investigation revealed disturbing evidence of Thompson’s past offenses, including a conviction for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in Alabama in 1998, which required him to register as a sex offender.
Despite his criminal history, the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Thompson as a contractor in 2013 to work on their video board network and operate the jumbotron during games.
However, upon discovering his status as a sex offender in 2018, the team chose not to renew his contract.
Prosecutors revealed that before the termination of his contract, Thompson had installed remote access software on a server in the Jaguars’ server room, allowing him to control the jumbotron during games in the 2018 season.
His actions caused the video boards to malfunction repeatedly, disrupting game broadcasts.
Following diligent investigation by the FBI, Thompson’s home was identified as the source of the hacking.
A subsequent search of his residence in July 2019 uncovered damning evidence, including electronic devices containing thousands of images and hundreds of videos depicting child sexual abuse.
Shockingly, some of these materials were produced by Thompson himself, featuring children under his care.
The sentencing of Thompson to 220 years in prison marks a major victory for federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies combating child exploitation and cybercrime.
In response to the conviction, the Jacksonville Jaguars released a statement expressing gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in prosecuting the case.
This high-profile legal outcome proves the severity of crimes against children and the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement authorities.
