A Fairfield County man, Carson A. Bigham, has admitted to receiving child pornography, as announced by the District's U.S. Attorney's office. The 24-year-old Lancaster resident entered his guilty plea in federal court, following his arrest last year on federal charges.
Bigham, who was a Columbus firefighter at the time of his arrest, came to the attention of authorities through two Cybertips received by the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tips linked him to another Columbus man, already facing federal child pornography charges since March 2025, which included the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Cybertips originated from Kik Messenger and Sniffies LLC, a map-based hookup application. Investigations revealed that Bigham's online exchanges with the Columbus man were sexual in nature and included discussions to potentially engage in sex with minors. Further forensic analysis found Bigham received numerous files of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors from August 2024 to May 2025.
The case was brought forward as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the alarming rise in child sexual exploitation. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio, those found guilty of receiving child pornography face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Handling the announcement were Dominick S. Gerace II, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, along with other officials from the ICAC Task Force, the DEA Columbus Airport Group, and the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office. Bigham's surrender to the jaws of justice signals another step in the government's continued effort to thoroughly locate and prosecute individuals who perpetrate these heinous crimes against children. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski represents the United States in this case. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found on the Department of Justice's website, affirming the nation's resolve to protect the most vulnerable of its citizens.
