A Virginia Beach man has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for distributing horrific images of child sexual abuse.
NORFOLK, Va. – Dustin Roy Harrell, 39, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) according to court documents.
On Oct. 12, 2023, Harrell distributed CSAM in a group on an end-to-end encryption messaging app that keeps communications private. He shared a link to a Mega.nz account within the private channel that allowed users to download a video depicting the sexual abuse of a newborn baby.
Law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices, including three cellphones. Forensic examinations of the phones revealed 267 images, 32 computer-generated images, and 5 videos of CSAM. One device contained conversations in which Harrell discussed topics of child pornography and incest.
Harrell engaged in online groups named ‘Cute Teens 16-19,’ ‘Uncensored Teens,’ Family Maza Incst,’ and more.
On [sentencing date], Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. sentenced Harrell to 7 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan announced the sentencing.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Heck and brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Related Federal Cases
- Kevin Javon Taylor, Receiving and Storing Child Sex Abuse Material, Virginia 2021 · Virginia
- Joseph Downing Barnes Jr., Child Porn Distribution, Virginia 2023 · Virginia
- William Rhodes, Child Pornography Distribution, Virginia 2023 · Tennessee
- Charles Tiffit Ellis Jr, Child Pornography Distribution, Virginia 2024 · New Hampshire
- Robert Dobbins, Child Porn Distribution, Virginia 2024 · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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