Georgia – A former police officer in Georgia is facing significant federal charges after an investigation that started with a tip from a concerned family member. Amber Nicole Ferguson, 34, from Commerce, Georgia, has been charged with several crimes connected to child exploitation and the production of obscene material, including allegations involving bestiality.
Federal authorities said the investigation started after a relative of two youngsters called the Commerce Police Department to report suspicions of abuse. The complaint led authorities to look at Ferguson’s phone, where they say they found child se*ual abuse material involving a youngster under 12. As the case went on, additional photos were obtained that were said to show se*ual abuse of animals, specifically a horse and a dog.
On December 2, 2025, a federal grand jury issued the indictment. Two days later, on December 4, U.S. Magistrate Judge Anna W. Howard formally charged Ferguson. The charges include making and trying to make child se*ual abuse material, possession of such material involving a young minor, and production of obscene material.
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Federal officials stressed how serious the offenses were, especially since Ferguson used to be a police officer. Prosecutors said that the indictment indicates Ferguson made both the child se*ual abuse material and the photos of bestiality.
Authorities made it clear that they were dedicated to safeguarding weak victims and punishing criminals, no matter who they were or what their previous authority was. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Commerce Police Department worked together on the investigation.
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Ferguson could get at least 15 years in federal prison if he is found guilty of the most serious accusations. The final sentence, if any, would be determined by the court after considering federal sentencing guidelines.
The prosecution is being handled by Jennifer Keen, an assistant U.S. attorney.
