DeKalb GA News

Florida Democrat Matthew Inman, a delegate and gay activist, has been arrested on charges related to child pornography. The arrest follows allegations that he sent illicit material to an undercover officer.

Inman is the President of the Rainbow Democrats, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting goodwill among LGBTQ+ members of the Democratic Party and the broader community. Previously, he served as Treasurer for the Orange County Democratic Party in Florida.

According to a statement from the U.S. District Attorney's office, between August and October 2024, Inman "received and saved several videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)," which depicted "adults sexually assaulting young children." He allegedly sent these materials to an undercover officer posing as the father of a nine-year-old boy.

During an FBI search of his home, Inman attempted to delete evidence from his phone and hid in his attic. He faces charges of transporting child sex abuse material, with potential penalties ranging from five to twenty years in federal prison if convicted.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced Inman's arrest and noted that this case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation. The FBI conducted the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan prosecuting.

Project Safe Childhood was launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local levels.