Oklahoma man sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of children

An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after being convicted of child sexual exploitation, according to the Department of Justice.

On Jan. 30, 2024, court documents say 36-year-old Jonathan Chase Russell of Elk City posted 15 images depicting two minor females engaging in sexually explicit conduct on a messaging app. The following day, Russell sent three of the images to an undercover federal investigator.

Federal investigators say agents were able to trace Russell's IP address to a hotel in Midland, Texas, and on Feb. 8, agents executed a search warrant on Russell's hotel room, where they discovered pairs of children’s underwear and a backpack that contained sexual devices.

Agents also said they discovered a smartphone, which had been hidden underneath a refrigerator. Forensic examination revealed that the phone contained a substantial collection of images depicting the sexual abuse of minor children. 

According to the DOJ, the Western District of Texas filed an indictment on Feb. 28, charging Russell with possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Russell was also indicted in the Western District of Oklahoma on April 3 for one count of production of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The DOJ says Russell's Oklahoma case was transferred to Texas, and on Aug. 19, Russell pleaded guilty to all four counts.

“This defendant’s abhorrent behavior has been put to an end thanks to cooperation between federal prosecutors and law enforcement across the country,” U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma said. “The lengthy sentence imposed is yet another example of the Department’s focus on protecting children and serving justice to those who seek to target the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Russell was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison.