Jason McGrath, a 45-year-old resident of South Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on December 2, 2025. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier. Following his release from prison, McGrath will serve a 10-year term of supervised release. He had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a minor to produce child sexual abuse materials.
Court records show that McGrath used an internet messaging application to communicate with two individuals, offering money for the production of original child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). He sent payments and received CSAM depicting a child as young as eight years old from at least one user. In addition, McGrath exchanged over 1,800 messages with another person in which he provided instructions on how to sexually abuse an 11-year-old girl and requested photographs documenting the abuse.
First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher recognized the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce in investigating this case. He also acknowledged support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt prosecuted the case, while Assistant Federal Defender Carmen Brooks represented McGrath.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at Justice.gov/PSC.
