Albuquerque, New Mexico – Michael Dameon Blackburn, 31, has been sentenced to 120 years of imprisonment for producing and distributing child pornography depicting two toddlers.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson imposed the sentence on Blackburn, who will also spend the rest of his life under supervised release and register as a sex offender.
Blackburn was ordered to pay $430,800.00 in restitution to the two children who were victims of his criminal conduct.
Prosecutors announced that Blackburn’s sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and Albuquerque Police Department.
Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney said, "The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made it a priority to prosecute those who exploit young, vulnerable children. While there are never any winners in these cases, we hope that the knowledge that Blackburn will spend the rest of his life in prison where he can never harm them or any other child will bring a measure of solace to the two young children he so terribly exploited."
HSI Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez stated, "HSI will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners, as it did in this case, to keep our children safe and our communities strong against these heinous crimes and criminals."
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales, III, added, "The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is committed to collaborating with federal agencies to proactively investigate crimes against children, and that commitment is reaffirmed when, as in this case, we are able to rescue young victims from the sexual predators who exploit them."
Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., said, "We must do the utmost to ensure those who prey on innocent children are punished to the full extent of the law. It is a privilege to work alongside our law enforcement partners and hold these worst of the worst criminals accountable."
Blackburn was arrested on December 17, 2013, after a welfare check at his residence in northeast Albuquerque revealed evidence of child molestation and production of child pornography.
The investigation began on November 15, 2013, when Homeland Security Investigations in Albuquerque received information from the HSI Cyber Crimes Center about a pornographic image of a young child victim who might be in the Albuquerque area.
Blackburn’s exact criminal charges include producing, distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, as well as two counts of producing child pornography.
Blackburn’s sentence will be served concurrently with any other sentences he may receive for other offenses.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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