RAPID CITY – A Rapid City man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in a child pornography case.
Zahkim Vela, 23, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his conviction on a charge of Possession of Child Pornography.
Vela was ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100 and $8,000 in restitution.
Vela will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The case against Vela began with a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children regarding the download of child pornography using the application Kik Messenger.
A search of Vela’s Kik Messenger account contained videos and images of child pornography, including of infants and toddlers.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on Vela’s home and located multiple devices. Vela admitted to receiving, saving, and distributing images of child pornography on Kik Messenger.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Vela was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The sentencing took place on February 3, 2023.
Vela was federally indicted following a Cybertip in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on October 12, 2022.
Related Federal Cases
- Ryan Davies, Child Pornography Possession, South Dakota 2018 · South Dakota
- Dylan James Steffen, Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- William Nicholas Riley, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- Nathan Frisch, Child Pornography, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
- Nathan Frisch, Child Pornography Receipt, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
