Gainesville, Florida — A Gainesville man faces federal charges alleging production of child pornography, triggering prosecution in federal court.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, a federal grand jury indicted Robert Lee Johnson III, 39, of Gainesville, on six counts of producing child pornography.
Federal prosecutors allege Johnson produced illegal material involving minors. An indictment represents formal charges but does not determine guilt.
Johnson appeared in federal court for his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, where the charges were formally presented, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
His jury trial is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor in federal court in Gainesville.
If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and up to 30 years imprisonment on each count, according to federal prosecutors.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case.
Federal officials noted that an indictment is only an allegation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Authorities said the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the exploitation and abuse of children online and to identify victims.
Cases involving online exploitation often draw attention in college communities and areas with large student populations, where federal investigators frequently focus on digital evidence and internet activity.
Additional public court records related to the case may become available through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida as proceedings move forward.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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