Federal Prosecutors Charge Two Men in First Major Cases Under New Federal Deepfake Pornography Law
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Federal authorities have arrested and indicted two men accused of using artificial intelligence to create and distribute large volumes of non-consensual explicit deepfake images and videos featuring female celebrities, politicians, and private individuals, marking some of the earliest prosecutions under the Take It Down Act, a bipartisan law signed last year aimed at combating the surge in AI-generated sexual abuse material.
Cornelius Shannon, 51, of New Jersey, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, of Texas, were arrested Tuesday on charges related to the production and online dissemination of sexually obscene AI-generated content that collectively garnered millions of views, according to court documents unsealed in the Eastern District of New York.
The two cases, which do not appear connected, highlight the growing use of accessible AI tools to produce realistic fake pornography without victims’ consent. Under the Take It Down Act, both men face up to two years in federal prison if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella for the Eastern District of New York described the allegations as a clear example of technology being weaponized to harm. “These defendants used cutting-edge digital technology to create images that degraded and violated dozens of women,” Nocella said in a statement. “This case makes clear that posting deepfake pornography is not a victimless crime.”
According to the criminal complaint, Shannon allegedly published at least 240 albums of AI-generated pornography targeting high-profile women, including female politicians, musicians, and singers. Prosecutors say the material was widely distributed across online platforms.
Hernandez, meanwhile, is accused of posting deepfakes involving both celebrities and non-public figures, including recent high school graduates. The complaint alleges his content also reached significant audiences online.
The arrests come just over a year after President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act into law on May 19, 2025. The legislation, formally known as the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, strengthens penalties for sharing non-consensual intimate imagery — commonly known as “revenge porn” — and specifically addresses AI-generated deepfakes.
The bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress, sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). It also received public backing from First Lady Melania Trump, who has advocated for stronger protections against online exploitation.
The law requires social media platforms to implement faster notice-and-takedown procedures for reported non-consensual intimate images and deepfakes. It also enhances criminal penalties for perpetrators and provides victims with clearer pathways to seek removal of harmful content and pursue justice.
“This is a major victory for victims of online abuse,” Klobuchar said in a statement following the law’s passage. “It gives people legal protections and tools when their intimate images, including deepfakes, are shared without their consent, and enables law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.”
Cruz echoed that sentiment, stating, “Predators who weaponize new technology to post this exploitative filth will now rightfully face criminal consequences, and Big Tech will no longer be allowed to turn a blind eye to the spread of this vile material.”
The legislation was also supported by Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, as well as the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a tech industry-supported think tank. In a statement after the bill’s signing, the foundation called it “an important step forward” that helps victims pursue justice amid the rapid evolution of AI technology.
The rise of sophisticated generative AI tools has dramatically lowered the barrier for creating hyper-realistic deepfake pornography. What once required advanced technical skills can now be produced quickly using consumer-grade applications, raising alarms among lawmakers, child safety advocates, and women’s rights groups.
This week’s cases are part of a broader wave of enforcement. Last month in Ohio, a man became the first person convicted under the Take It Down Act after pleading guilty to using AI to generate child sexual abuse material. In March, two teenage boys in Pennsylvania were placed on probation for creating explicit AI images of their female classmates at an elite private school.
Public concern has intensified as reports emerge of deepfakes targeting not only celebrities but also private citizens, including minors. In one high-profile civil case filed earlier this year in Tennessee, three high school students sued Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging that the company’s Grok AI tools were used to transform their real photos into sexually explicit images. The lawsuit seeks class-action status, claiming thousands of minors may have been affected.
Legal experts note that while the Take It Down Act provides new tools for prosecutors and victims, significant challenges remain. Detecting AI-generated content at scale is technically difficult, enforcement across international platforms is complex, and questions persist about balancing victim protection with free speech rights.
Supporters argue the law strikes a necessary balance by focusing on non-consensual intimate imagery rather than broader content moderation. Critics, however, worry that expanded liability could pressure platforms to over-remove content or stifle innovation in AI development.
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, cases like those of Shannon and Hernandez are expected to become more common. Federal authorities say they are prioritizing these investigations, working closely with tech companies to identify perpetrators and protect victims.
For now, the prosecutions signal a new era of accountability in the digital realm. As Nocella noted, the victims are real people whose privacy, dignity, and reputations have been harmed by fabricated but disturbingly convincing imagery.
The defendants are expected to make initial court appearances in the coming days. Both cases remain pending.
