Grenada, MS – A Mississippi man has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for his role in an online child exploitation group and attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl in Wisconsin, authorities said.
Defendant Identified
Thomas Hudson, 34, most recently listed as a resident of Grenada, Mississippi, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2025, to producing child pornography.
In August 2024, Hudson traveled to Minnesota in an attempt to meet the 13-year-old after communicating with her online.
He located the victim’s home but became stranded in Minneapolis, where authorities arrested him following a tip to law enforcement. Searches of Hudson’s electronics revealed multiple other victims, according to reports.
Role in Online Exploitation Networks
Officials discovered that Hudson was an administrator of an online group with hundreds of members focused on child exploitation.
He was also involved in other groups where adults threatened violence against underage girls who refused to produce sexually explicit material.
A relative of one victim described Hudson as a “monster”, explaining their child was afraid to go outside due to fear he might come after her.
Court Statements and Sentence
Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson called Hudson’s actions “cruel and manipulative”, noting it was among the worst cases of its kind he had ever seen.
Acting U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma emphasized that the sentence reaffirms the commitment to protecting children from online predators.
FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle said:
“Mr. Hudson’s inexcusable actions of exploiting minors online as a group administrator with hundreds of members will not be tolerated.”
Nationwide Law Enforcement Involvement
The FBI assisted across multiple states, including:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Hudson will serve 22 years in federal prison and will be subject to lifetime supervised release upon completion of his sentence.
What are your thoughts on cracking down on online child exploitation networks? Share your opinions in the comments below to help raise awareness about online safety for minors.
