A Jefferson County man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for child sexual exploitation offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Benjamin Ross Norris, 44, of Pinson, to 240 months in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Norris was also ordered to pay $30,500 in restitution to child victims. He previously pleaded guilty to transportation and possession of child pornography.
Court records show that in May 2022, investigators received CyberTipline reports identifying internet accounts used to transmit child sexual abuse material. The accounts were linked to Norris. A subsequent search of locations associated with him led to the seizure of electronic devices, which contained 179 files of child pornography. Norris had a prior conviction for possession of child pornography.
The case was investigated by the FBI Birmingham Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Homewood Police Department. Federal prosecutors handled the case.
