Jesse Leon Coleman, Receipt of Child Pornography, Virginia 2012

WASHINGTON – A new low in the disturbing world of child exploitation: 48-year-old Jesse Leon Coleman of Lynchburg, Virginia, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute child pornography.

According to court documents, Coleman was part of a group of nine individuals who received and distributed thousands of images and videos of child abuse. The group, which was led by a suspect believed to reside in Russia, used a network of email communications to share the disturbing content.

Coleman’s involvement in the conspiracy was confirmed through forensic analysis of his computer, which revealed a large collection of child pornography. This is not the first time Coleman has been involved in such activities, as he was previously convicted of possession of child pornography while serving in the military. During that time, he also sexually abused three minor boys overseas.

The case against Coleman and his co-conspirators was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project involves federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Coleman’s sentence marks the eighth conviction in this case, with several of his co-defendants receiving similar sentences. Manuel Antonio Mares, Jeremy Hart Yost, Richard Phillip Allen, James Calvin Boyd, and Peter Franklin Ortiz were all previously sentenced in the Western District of Virginia for their roles in the conspiracy. Two other co-defendants, Thomas Syfor and Matthew Ackerman, were transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for disposition. The ninth defendant, believed to reside in Russia, remains at large.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Innocent Images Operations Unit, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Healey of the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Darcy Katzin of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Coleman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. This sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of child exploitation crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

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