A former orthodontist in Michigan who shuttered his practices in 2023 after he was arrested for child pornography has been sentenced to 60 years in prison, according to a press release dated February 23 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
In October, Dr. Thomas Shannon, 44, pleaded guilty to U.S. child exploitation charges and faced 15 to 60 years in prison.
“Shannon’s selfish and senseless exploitation of these children has exposed them to a lifetime of emotional damage,” U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey said in the release. “I sincerely hope they can overcome it. But preying on our children must stop, and we will seek long sentences against people like Shannon until it does stop.”
From 2019 to 2024, Shannon reportedly exploited at least 18 children online, ranging in ages from 12 to 17. Authorities began investigating Shannon, who previously operated Shannon Orthodontics in Grandville and Plainwell, MI, after a therapist reported that a 16-year-old had been sexually exploited on Snapchat. Investigating Snapchat and Cash App records, authorities identified Shannon as the perpetrator.
To prove that he did not possess child pornography, Shannon hired a private forensic examiner to review his phone. However, the examiner reportedly discovered child pornography on the phone and notified police.
Authorities reviewed Shannon's phone and Snapchat records and discovered additional minor victims, including a 12-year-old. Also, another victim who accused Shannon of instructing her to video chat with him while engaged in sexually explicit conduct came forward to police.
In 2023, Shannon was arrested on state charges of possessing child sexually abusive material and using computers to commit a crime. Authorities claimed that Shannon had been communicating and soliciting minors online for sexually explicit photos and videos since 2019. A few times, Shannon allegedly tried to meet up with those minors to have sex. The state charges were dropped once the U.S. charges were filed.
