Jury Convicts Man of Child Pornography Crimes

**UPDATE** On May 29, 2018, U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga ordered that the jury's verdict finding the defendant guilty of counts one and two of the indictment be set aside, the judgment of conviction vacated, and the indictment dismissed. Original press release announcing the trial conviction is below.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Sterling man today on charges of distributing and receiving images of child sexual abuse.

Jerry Dean Dillingham, 38, was convicted of distribution and receipt of child pornography. According to evidence presented at trial, Dillingham was found sharing child pornography files on a peer-to-peer network on the Internet. Agents executed a federal search warrant at Dillingham’s home, and Dillingham admitted he downloaded and shared child pornography on the Internet. Forensic review of Dillingham’s computer revealed child pornography images involving prepubescent children, including bondage and bestiality.

Dillingham faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 2, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Patrick J. Lechleitner, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Burke IV are prosecuting the case.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington D.C., and the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-184.