Joel Wesley Dillard, Child Pornography, Alabama 2023

Alabama Man Gets 189 Months for Child Pornography

A repeat sex offender has been sentenced to 189 months in prison for possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Joel Wesley Dillard, 47, of Morris, Alabama, to 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release.

According to the plea agreement, on June 15, 2022, Snapchat reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Dillard had uploaded videos of child pornography to his account.

During the investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that the IP address used to access Dillard’s accounts originated in Morris, Alabama, and subsequently transferred the case to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

Agents executed a search warrant at Dillard’s residence, where they seized 17 electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 13,000 images of child pornography. Agents also discovered Telegram messages on Dillard’s cell phone, including a conversation in which he agreed to trade child pornography with other users.

If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The FBI investigated the case along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.

Defendant Information: Defendant Full Name: Joel Wesley Dillard
Criminal Charge: Possession of Child Pornography
City and State: Morris, Alabama
Crime Date: June 24, 2022
Date of Arrest: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Sex Crimes

Michael M. Natterer, Interacting with a Minor for Sex, Kentucky 2017

Jul 25, 2018

Sex Crimes

Alex Tyler Buenaga, Child Sex Abuse, Virginia 2024

Apr 1, 2026

Sex Crimes

Dewey Marrowbone, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, South Dakota 2017

Feb 17, 2017

Sex Crimes

Amber Decker, Child Sex Exploitation, New York 2019

Aug 12, 2020