Texas Man Arrested in Alaska, Sentenced for Producing Child Pornography

AUSTIN, Texas - A former Lakeway resident was sentenced in federal court in Austin on Thursday to 15 years in prison with an additional 15 years of supervised release for producing child sexual exploitation material.

According to court documents, Thomas Owen Norvell, 38, persuaded a minor to record a sexually explicit video on his cell phone. Live Oak Police Department launched an investigation and requested the help of the FBI San Antonio Division after a relative of the victim reported awareness of the abuse. Norvell had been living in Fairbanks, Alaska when FBI agents arrested him on Nov. 30, 2021. He was later transferred to Austin, where he remained in custody and awaited sentencing. Norvell pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2022.

"It took a lot of courage for the victim in this case to speak up and for their relative to report the abuse that had taken place," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. "I commend our law enforcement partners here in Texas and in Alaska for investigating and arresting this predator, leading to this lengthy sentence."

"This sentencing sends a message to those who exploit innocent children that we will aggressively pursue you and ensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division. "I would like to thank the Live Oak Police Department and FBI Anchorage for their assistance and partnership on this case."

The FBI and LOPD investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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