Federal authorities have uncovered new details in the investigation of former Republican South Carolina State Rep. Robert “RJ” May, revealing that an Oklahoma man, Christian Soto, allegedly exchanged child pornography with May.
Soto, who has a prior record for threatening his ex-girlfriend, is now facing federal charges for receiving and possessing child pornography, as well as illegal possession of ammunition.
Soto’s Kik account, under the username “randomcouplehere,” was linked to dozens of digital devices found in his home and vehicle.
Court documents indicate that May requested images of so-called “bad moms” from Soto, highlighting a disturbing pattern in their exchanges, the New York Post reports.
The investigation into Soto arose from federal prosecutors’ ongoing scrutiny of May, who was arrested in June 2025.
May, 38, of Lexington County and father of two, was connected to a Kik account with the username “joebidennnn69,” which was flagged in April 2024 for containing child sexual abuse material and reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Kik Messenger is a smartphone app that allows users to send messages, photos and videos using a username rather than a phone number.
The platform’s anonymity has sometimes been exploited to share illegal content, as was alleged in this case.
Federal authorities traced the account to May’s home IP address and mobile devices.
At least 10 videos of child sexual abuse were confirmed to have been shared directly from his device.
The federal indictment includes 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material, each carrying a minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, plus fines and supervised release terms.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) witness testified that videos recovered from May’s home showed him traveling to Colombia, South Carolina, allegedly engaging in sexual acts with three underage girls in exchange for money.
The files were reportedly stored alongside the child pornography content traded on Kik.
Fox 8 noted that federal agents initially flagged May’s Kik username, which prompted the broader cyber investigation.
May was denied bond by a federal judge in Columbia after prosecutors highlighted the ages of some victims, which appeared similar to those of May’s own children.
Following his arrest, he was suspended from the South Carolina House of Representatives without pay.
Elected in 2020 and re-elected unopposed in 2022, May co-founded South Carolina’s House Freedom Caucus and was known for his anti‑LGBT stances and his public insistence that protecting children should be a legislative priority.
Officials confirmed that, in addition to imprisonment, May faces financial penalties and a supervised release term.
His trial date has not yet been scheduled; he remains in federal custody.
The investigation revealed that over 220 files were exchanged during a five-day period in spring 2024, though authorities have not confirmed whether additional individuals beyond Soto were involved, according to The Post.
The new revelations regarding Soto’s involvement underscore that the federal probe into May’s activities is expanding.
Authorities continue to examine digital evidence and communications that may identify further participants in the distribution of illegal material.
