FORT MILL, S.C. — Wesley Keith Zimmer, 31, of Fort Mill, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for transportation of child sexual abuse material, federal officials announced.
U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon handed down the sentence, which includes a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
The FBI conducted the investigation into Zimmer’s online activities after receiving tips regarding illicit communications with minors, said the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina in a news release.
Federal authorities revealed that Zimmer used online platforms including Quora, WhatsApp and Snapchat to solicit, possess and distribute child sexual abuse material.
In May 2024, FBI agents received information that Zimmer was communicating with a 13-year-old girl on the website Quora. After learning the girl’s age, Zimmer continued sending sexually explicit images to her and compelled her to send explicit pictures of herself in return. He directed the child to delete their communications, providing instructions on how to remove messages from her device and WhatsApp chat.
A review of Zimmer’s electronic devices, including an iPad, an iPhone and a laptop, revealed he was also communicating with a 15-year-old girl and a man on Snapchat. Zimmer captured screenshot images during “live” audio and video Snapchat group calls with the two participants and distributed those child sexual abuse images to the group members.
FBI agents executed a search warrant at Zimmer’s South Carolina residence after reviewing historical National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tips indicating illicit images were downloaded in North Carolina, the U.S. Attorney said. Investigators recovered 364 unique child sexual abuse images from Zimmer’s iPhone that were identical to the tip records, confirming he transported the material from North Carolina to South Carolina.
Judge Lydon also ordered Zimmer to pay $48,500 in restitution to the victims.