Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

Louisville, KY - A Louisville man was sentenced today to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville made the announcement.

John Christopher Cecil, 40, was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for four counts of distribution, two counts of receipt, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Cecil was an active participant in online child pornography chat groups focused on trading and chatting about child pornography.

Cecil was also ordered to pay $58,000 in restitution to multiple victims in the case.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by HSI Louisville.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

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