Justin William Zube, Possessing Child Pornography, Michigan 2022

BAY CITY, Mich. – A Bay City man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

In August 2022, Justin William Zube, 34, was sentenced to 15 years in prison following his conviction by a federal jury of possessing child pornography depicting minors under age 12.

According to the evidence presented at trial, investigators from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into Zube after receiving a tip from Snapchat and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation culminated in the execution of a search warrant at Zube’s Bay City residence on February 11, 2020. Agents seized multiple digital devices from Zube’s home which were found to contain in excess of 300 images and videos of child pornography.

Zube had been previously convicted of possession of child sexually abusive material in Bay County Circuit Court in 2014.

U.S. Attorney Ison stated, ‘Victims depicted in child pornography are not only victimized by their abusers, but also by the individuals who collect and view the images and videos.’

FBI Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca added, ‘The possession of child sexual abuse material is not a victimless crime. The children portrayed suffer real and permanent damage for the rest of their lives.’

The case was investigated by the Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Vailliencourt and Ann Nee.

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