A 43-year-old Tampa man is staring down the possibility of a lengthy federal prison term after a grand jury indicted him on charges that he tried to produce and receive child sexual abuse material and sent obscene content to someone he believed was under 16. The indictment against Tavaris Marvidis Johnson was returned yesterday and unsealed today, and federal prosecutors say he could face up to 60 years behind bars if convicted.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Johnson is charged with attempted production of child sexual abuse material, attempted receipt of such material, and transfer of obscene material to a minor. Prosecutors emphasize that an indictment is only a formal charge and that Johnson, like any defendant, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The office said the investigation involved the FBI and the Tampa Police Department, and that Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry is assigned to prosecute the case.
Tampa man indicted for attempted production, receipt & transfer of obscene material to a minor. #PSCMDFL @FBITampa @TampaPD https://x.com/i/status/2030000598230204914
— USAO Middle Florida (@usao_mdfl) March 6, 2026
Indictment Details
The unsealed indictment alleges that between August 2 and August 9, 2025, Johnson tried to persuade a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct so it could be recorded in visual form, and that he also attempted to receive child sexual abuse material during that same period. Prosecutors further allege that on August 8 and 9 he knowingly transferred obscene material to an individual he believed was under the age of 16, an accusation the U.S. Attorney’s Office also highlighted on X.
Investigation And What Comes Next
Federal agents with the FBI and detectives from the Tampa Police Department took part in the probe, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The grand jury returned the indictment on March 6; if and when an arraignment is scheduled, those dates will appear on the public federal court docket.
As outlined by Project Safe Childhood, the case falls under a broader Justice Department initiative that coordinates investigations, prosecutions, and victim services in matters involving alleged online child exploitation.
Local Context And Resources
Federal prosecutors in Tampa have brought several child-exploitation cases in recent months. Hoodline previously covered a separate federal indictment in February stemming from the same U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Anyone who suspects online sexual exploitation of a child can contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST or submit a report online, and may also send tips directly to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
