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Press Release

Dearborn Man Sentenced To 15 years In Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan

DETROIT - Sean McClanahan, 51, of Dearborn, Michigan, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison on charges of distributing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris, III, Department of Homeland Security.

According to court records, after McClanahan sent a link containing files of child pornography to an undercover officer, on July 1, 2018, he admitted to distributing child pornography on that day, and as part of his plea agreement, further admitted to involvement with more than 600 images of child pornography and images of infants and toddlers. This was McClanahan’s second conviction for a federal child pornography offense, and he engaged in this conduct while he was still on supervised release for his first offense. 

“Each time an image of an abused child is distributed or viewed online it revictimizes that child. We will protect these children and hold individuals accountable each and every time they prey on our most vulnerable citizens,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. 

“HSI is committed to protecting the innocent and ensuring offenders like McClanahan are removed from our communities,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris III.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan Bean and Christopher Rawsthorne.

Updated April 13, 2022

Topic
Project Safe Childhood