⏱ 2 min read
Christopher Martin, a 46-year-old from Markham, Illinois, operated an online chat group that shared large amounts of child pornography. The group, which was hosted on the instant-messaging mobile application Kik, had a simple rule: members had to constantly share photos and videos of child pornography to stay in the group. Martin, who moderated the chat and enforced the rules, would pressure members to share content, writing that if they didn’t, they would be removed from the group.
Martin’s operation came to an end when he pleaded guilty to federal charges of transportation of child pornography earlier this year. On June 11, 2026, U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall sentenced Martin to 33 years and nine months in federal prison.
The sentence was the result of an investigation led by the FBI, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued that Martin’s offense was extremely serious, as it helped drive the creation of child pornography and put more children at risk of abuse.
The case highlights the dark reality of online child pornography and the need for law enforcement to crack down on these types of operations. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual exploitation, you can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com or 1-800-843-5678.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Illinois
- Location: IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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