By Staff Writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BEDIAS, TEXAS – Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York have charged two men with violating the TAKE IT DOWN Act, marking one of the first criminal cases brought under the year\u2011old federal law that prohibits the nonconsensual publication of AI generated deepfake pornography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cornelius Shannon, 51, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, of Bedias, Texas, were arrested Wednesday after federal complaints were unsealed in Brooklyn. Shannon was taken into custody in New Jersey and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross\u2011Goldenberg. Hernandez was arrested in Texas and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to prosecutors, both men allegedly created and posted thousands of AI\u2011generated pornographic images and videos that falsely depicted real women \u2014 including actresses, singers, elected officials, and acquaintances nude or engaged in sexual acts. Hernandez is additionally accused of posting hundreds of deepfake sexual depictions of non-public figures, including women he did not personally know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. and FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. announced the arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPosting deepfake pornography is not a victimless crime,\u201d Nocella said, emphasizing that the new law gives federal authorities the tools to pursue offenders who weaponize AI to inflict \u201cpsychological, reputational, and financial abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barnacle called the conduct \u201ca disturbing abuse of technology,\u201d adding that the FBI will pursue those who use AI tools to violate victims\u2019 privacy and dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal filings state that since May 19, 2025, Shannon uploaded at least 360 albums of deepfake pornography to an adult\u2011content platform, depicting approximately 90 identifiable female victims. The images and videos were viewed millions of times, according to investigators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hernandez allegedly posted 113 albums containing deepfake content depicting roughly 50 identifiable women, including private individuals. Many albums began with real, non\u2011explicit photos of the victims that then morphed into sexually explicit deepfakes. Prosecutors say the content was viewed nearly one million times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Passed by Congress on April 28, 2025, the TAKE IT DOWN Act (short for Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act) criminalizes the nonconsensual publication of intimate images, including AI\u2011generated forgeries. The law targets both \u201crevenge porn\u201d and synthetic deepfake material designed to simulate real individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If convicted, Shannon and Hernandez each face up to two years in federal prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reporting Non\u2011Consensual Images<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victims or witnesses of nonconsensual intimate imagery can report incidents through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Federal Trade Commission also operates TakeItDown.ftc.gov, where victims can report platforms that fail to remove nonconsensual intimate images or lack a removal process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case is being handled by the National Security & Cybercrime Section of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Moscow and Molly N. Delaney are leading the prosecution, with support from Investigator Jeffrey Tarkin and Paralegal Specialist Emily Woodruff. Assistant U.S. Attorney Madeline O\u2019Connor is overseeing asset forfeiture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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