Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the sentencing of Steven Dessino, 46, of Biloxi, Mississippi, for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by the Mississippi Attorney General's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from the Biloxi Police Department. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
"I am grateful to our federal, state, and local partners who work closely with our office to protect our children and make the Internet a safer place," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "If you suspect a child is being sexually exploited, please report it. Your tip could be the key to serving justice for the victims and keeping others safe."
On February 18, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Taylor McNeel sentenced Dessino to 12 years and 7 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, with 20 months of post-release supervision. Dessino was ordered to pay $37,000 in restitution and will also have to register as a sex offender upon release. Dessino’s arrest was the result of an undercover operation initiated by Attorney General's Office.
If you have information about a child being sexually exploited online, please report it to 1-800-843-5678. You can also make a report online at www.cybertipline.org. The hotline is manned by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and tips are reported to the Attorney General’s Office, which runs the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for Mississippi.
