FLORIDA – A former gymnastics coach and social media content creator from Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to multiple child pornography and money-laundering charges, the Justice Department said.
Court documents say that between 2023 and 2025, Theresa Mitchell, 44, conspired with Christopher Buckeridge to produce and sell images and videos showing minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mitchell sold and distributed the material on social media platforms, messaging apps and subscription-based websites, and received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sales, the documents say.
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Buckeridge also sent Mitchell hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including material involving prepubescent children.
A federal magistrate judge issued arrest warrants for Mitchell and Buckeridge on March 17. Mitchell was arrested by federal agents in central Pennsylvania on March 19 and remains in custody, the Justice Department said.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce and distribute child pornography, two counts of production of child pornography, one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. She faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on the production and conspiracy counts.
The receipt and possession counts and the money-laundering conspiracy count each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.
If sentenced, Mitchell would be required to pay restitution to victims and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). A U.S. district judge will determine her sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14.
The plea was announced by the Justice Department, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Florida and the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office.