Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A Springfield, Illinois, man, Adam J. Heintzman, 26, was sentenced today to 228 months of imprisonment for the offenses of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.

At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Heintzman, who is formerly of Emden, Illinois, possessed over 200,000 images of child pornography, and that he engaged in online messaging where he declared a preference for children under the age of 10. The government also established that Heintzman had engaged in conversations where he expressed a desire to engage in the sexual abuse of a child.

During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted that the sentence was appropriate based upon the quantity of images, the ages of the children involved, the fact that the depictions included images of sadistic or masochist conduct, and the transfer of obscene material to minors. Judge Lawless ordered Heintzman be remanded to the custody of the United States Marshall Service at the conclusion of today's sentencing hearing. Judge Lawless further ordered that Heintzman serve seven years of supervised release following his sentence of imprisonment and that he pay over $80,000 in restitution to his victims.

On December 21, 2023, Heintzman appeared in federal court, waived indictment, and pleaded guilty to an information before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught.

The statutory penalties for distribution of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years' imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for receipt of child pornography are not less than five years and up to 20 years' imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are up to 20 years' imprisonment, up to a life term of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and restitution.

"Each person who shares, receives, and possesses the lasting evidence of the sexual assaults suffered by children depicted in child pornography contributes to the irreparable harm suffered by these victims," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs. "These predators value their own satisfaction at the expense of children. We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their commitment to these investigations and cases."

The Logan County Sherriff's Office and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Logan County State's Attorney's Office. AUSA Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.

The case against Heintzman was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.