Central KY men among more than 200 arrested in federal child porn sweep
Nine Kentucky men were arrested recently as part of a nationwide FBI operation to identify, track and arrest child sex offenders.
More than 200 arrests were made across the U.S. as part of a five-day FBI initiative that incorporated all 55 field offices, the FBI said in a news release Wednesday.
In Kentucky, the FBI Louisville office secured 10 federal indictments and six arrests. Three people in state custody will be transferred to a federal prison. One person remains outstanding, and one indictment is under seal, according to the FBI.
Indictments include:
• Jason Back, 42, of Salyersville, was charged with online enticement of a minor.
• Jesus Chavez, 32, of Somerset, was charged with five counts of producing child pornography.
• Jordan A. Cobb, 33, of Salyersville, was charged with online enticement of a minor and cyberstalking of a minor.
• Austin Hawk, 25, of Pittsburg, was charged with transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
• Nathan Smith, 30, of Manchester, was charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
• Michael Moon, 47, of Annville, was charged with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
• Timothy Ray Dale, 63, of Paris, was charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
• Finley Wooton, 32, of Hyden, was charged with the attempted production of child pornography.
Olivia Olson, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office, commended the FBI Louisville’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, which assisted the mission in Kentucky.
“While the FBI’s work to identify, investigate, and apprehend these predators never stops, our increased efforts over the last month during Operation Restore Justice resulted in removing some of our community’s most heinous criminals,” Olson said. “FBI Louisville, in lockstep with our law enforcement partners, will continue to use every available resource to protect America’s most vulnerable populations, especially our children.”
People arrested nationwide included those in positions of public trust, such as law enforcement, military and teachers, the FBI said.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM.
