A 29-year-old Athens man who hid behind the online handle "amWoos" is headed to federal prison for 18 years after admitting to distributing and possessing child pornography. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Hunter William Bell to 216 months behind bars, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Prosecutors say the case grew out of a multi-office investigation that started when evidence surfaced in another state.
CASE UPDATE from @FBIBirmingham and @FBIOklahomaCity: Athens Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Pornography https://x.com/i/status/2052039947687747657
— FBI (@FBI) May 6, 2026
How Investigators Connected Him To The Images
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Alabama, FBI agents in Oklahoma City executed a federal search warrant on August 16, 2024, after seizing devices during an unrelated search. A forensic review showed child pornography had been exchanged via the Kik messenger app. In October 2024, the Oklahoma City office sent an investigative lead to the FBI’s Birmingham field office, which ultimately brought the case to North Alabama.
Arrest And The Evidence
Bell was arrested at his Athens home on January 14, 2025, where agents seized an Apple iPhone that prosecutors say contained more than 600 images of child pornography, according to WAFF. The outlet reports that Bell used the online handle "amWoos" in the chats identified by investigators, tying the screen name directly to the devices seized in the case.
Prosecution And Sentence
Bell pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. Judge Maze then imposed the 216-month prison sentence and the 20-year term of supervised release. "This sentence ensures yet another child predator has been removed from our community and can no longer pose a threat to our children," Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby said. FBI Birmingham Special Agent in Charge David R. Fitzgibbons said the punishment "underscores the FBI’s dedication to seeking justice for our children," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Alabama.
How To Report Suspected Abuse
Officials urge anyone with information about suspected child sexual exploitation to contact the FBI Birmingham field office at 205-326-6166 or file a tip with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at cybertipline.org. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative.
