Hugh Allen Russell, Receipt of Child Pornography, WA 2023

Hugh Allen Russell, 31, of Spokane, Washington, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography—a crime committed while he was already registered as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Justin L. Quackenbush handed down the sentence, followed by an additional 15 years of court supervision post-release. Russell must also continue sex offender registration for life.

The case began with a digital breadcrumb: Dropbox flagged and reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user had uploaded a video depicting child sexual abuse. NCMEC forwarded the data to Washington’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, triggering an investigation by the FBI and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. A warrant-led search of Russell’s cellphone uncovered multiple images of child pornography—evidence that sealed his fate.

Russell isn’t a first-time offender. In 2014, he was convicted in Washington State for Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. At the time of the federal offense, he was actively registered as a sex offender—making his reoffense a top priority for federal prosecutors.

“Prosecuting offenders with prior child pornography convictions is a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby. “Cases of recidivists, like this one, will be prosecuted aggressively.”

This prosecution was carried out under Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program coordinates federal, state, and local agencies to investigate, arrest, and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims. Components include national task forces, enhanced federal enforcement, law enforcement training, and public education.

The investigation was led by the FBI and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison L. Gregoire prosecuted the case. For more on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.