A former Jacksonville Jaguars employee has been sentenced to 220 years in prison for creating child sexual abuse materials and hacking the jumbotron at the team’s stadium.
Investigators say the team hired St. Augustine’s Samuel Thompson as a contractor in 2013 to consult on the design and installation of a new videoboard network and then to operate the jumbotron on game days. That’s what it means.
However, they did not renew his contract after learning in 2018 that he was registered as a sex offender and had a criminal record. Thompson was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in Alabama in 1998, according to court records.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
A general view of the Jacksonville Jaguars statue in front of TIAA Bank Field before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers at TIAA Bank Field on January 14, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. . (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Thompson allegedly installed remote access software on a spare server in the Jaguars’ server room before his employment was terminated in March 2018. Thompson then gained access to the computer controlling Jumobutron during three games the following season, and the video was leaked. The board may fail repeatedly.
Prosecutors said the Jaguars were eventually able to locate the backup server, remove access to the jumbotron and gather network information, which the FBI tracked to Thompson’s home.
A Jacksonville Jaguars helmet is seen before a press conference to introduce Doug Pederson as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ new head coach at TIAA Bank Stadium on February 5, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler arrested on suspicion of drunk driving
According to log files, the FBI executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence in July 2019 and seized a cell phone, a tablet, and two laptops used to access the backup Jumbotron server. Investigators said they also seized a firearm that Thompson was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon.
But during that investigation, the FBI also discovered thousands of images and hundreds of videos of child sexual abuse on the devices. Investigators said the files contained videos and images of children Thompson had created in the month before the home attack, depicting children in his care.
The case involves another former employee who stole more than $20 million from the team through the company’s credit card program to fund a lavish lifestyle that included online gambling, private jet charters, private condo purchases and sports memorabilia. The announcement was made while he was serving a six-year prison sentence. , cars, spa treatments, and other personal purchases.
Jacksonville Jaguars helmets are seen during offseason training at TIAA Bank Field on May 30, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Thompson last year was charged with creating, receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material, making while required to register as a sex offender, violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and causing unauthorized damage to a protected computer. He was found guilty of sending a command and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcastplease subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
