A federal judge in Wilmington, North Carolina has sentenced Jeffrey Bryant Champion, 37, to 29 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material. Champion pleaded guilty to the charges.
Court documents revealed that Champion met a minor in Thailand and began sexually abusing her when she was fourteen. Over two years, he traveled to Thailand multiple times, continuing the abuse and creating numerous videos of child sexual abuse material. He also subjected the victim to emotional abuse by belittling her and using cruel language. In November 2024, Champion wired money to the victim so she could travel from Thailand to the United States and stay with him. Authorities intervened and conducted an international rescue in early December 2024.
“Jeffrey Champion thought he could avoid detection by leaving the country, kidnapping a young girl, and bringing her to North Carolina to commit his egregious offenses. Our investigation and prosecution team displayed the global reach of federal law to bring him to justice, and his prison sentence serves as a reminder of the FBI’s commitment to protect children and crush violent crime,” said Reid Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
The sentencing was announced by Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, following a decision by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The case was investigated by the FBI, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and Lynchburg Police Department in Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case.
