Crime & Safety

Vestavia Hills Doctor Sentenced To 30 Years For Child Porn

Ronald Tai Young Moon, Jr., 56, worked as a doctor at The Industrial Athlete clinic in Birmingham until his license was revoked this year.

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — A federal judge sentenced a former Vestavia Hills doctor to 30 years in prison Wednesday for producing and possessing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

Ronald Tai Young Moon, Jr., 56, of Vestavia Hills worked as a doctor at The Industrial Athlete clinic in Birmingham until his license was revoked earlier this year, authorities said. Moon went to trial in February, and after four days of testimony a jury convicted him of possessing, producing, and attempting to produce child pornography.

“Unfortunately, this sentence will not undo the harm suffered by Moon’s victims,” Escalona said. “However, understanding that the consequences of this conduct is severe might discourage other sexual predators from victimizing innocent children in this district.”

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According to prosecutors, evidence at trial proved that between the mid-1990s and about 2012, Moon secretly recorded neighbors and guests in his own home, including girls as young as 12 years old.

Some of those people were filmed naked, dressing, and undressing. The footage was located on VHS videotapes found in the defendant’s locked private office with other pornographic VHS tapes, steps away from a TV/VCR set that was working and plugged in. Evidence of multiple hidden-camera devices was also found in the defendant’s office.

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In addition to 30 years in prison, following his release from prison, Moon was ordered to serve 5 years of supervised release and, by law, will also be required to register as a sex offender.

“I am proud of the effort put forth by my agents in order to ensure this defendant was brought to justice and will no longer be able to harm children,” Sharp said. “Moon serving the next 30 years in federal prison ensures there is one less predator victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

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