Lake County Man Indicted For Producing Child Sex Abuse Material

Ocala, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging John Don Bannister, Jr. (30, Clermont) with two counts of production of child sex abuse material. If convicted, Bannister faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison on each count. Bannister is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.

According to the indictment, on April 26 and May 4, 2023, Bannister employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Mascotte Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.