Zetian Liu, Child Pornography Possession, Missouri 2023

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – In a shocking case of online depravity, 25-year-old Zetian Liu has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for possessing child pornography.

Liu, a Chinese citizen and St. Louis resident, pleaded guilty in March to one count of possession of child pornography. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s City Cyber Crimes Unit, which identified a specific IP address linked to Liu’s residence.

On August 11, 2019, a detective with the City Cyber Crimes Unit identified the IP address, which was being used to distribute child pornography through a file sharing network. An investigation ensued, leading to the discovery of computer files containing numerous depictions of child pornography and the arrest of Liu.

According to court documents, Liu initially downloaded child pornography inadvertently, but later began to download it intentionally. He told investigators that the child pornography could be found on his laptop and a flash drive. Officers were able to download files from the laptop and flash drive containing numerous videos and pictures depicting child pornography.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case.

In sentencing Liu to 60 months in prison, Judge Stephen R. Clark emphasized the severity of the crime. Liu’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of possessing and distributing child pornography.

The case serves as a warning to individuals who engage in online activities that exploit and harm vulnerable children. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will continue to crack down on such crimes, bringing perpetrators to justice and protecting the victims of these heinous acts.

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