Ryan Davies Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession

Child pornography was found on multiple electronic devices belonging to Ryan Davies, a 28-year-old man stationed near Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. The grim discovery culminated in a federal conviction and an 18-month prison sentence handed down by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on February 12, 2018.

Davies didn’t just download the images—he uploaded them. A CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged a cloud account actively sharing naked images of juveniles. Investigators traced the digital trail straight to Davies, whose devices held a stash of illegal material depicting exploited children.

Charged on June 14, 2016, Davies faced the full weight of federal law. The case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a national network dedicated to rooting out online predators. Evidence was overwhelming: metadata, IP logs, and file histories painted an undeniable picture of deliberate, repeated criminal conduct.

At sentencing, U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons confirmed the outcome: 18 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Davies was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund—a small price compared to the lifelong damage inflicted on his victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case with a focus on accountability. There was no plea deal that spared Davies from time behind bars. Within hours of the judge’s ruling, he was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service, disappearing into the federal system with no room for appeal.

The case stands as a stark reminder: digital footprints don’t vanish. For those who traffic in child exploitation, federal investigators are watching—and the consequences are real. Ryan Davies is now part of a permanent record, labeled not just as a criminal, but as a predator caught in the act.