Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charge

DAVENPORT, IA – A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced on February 28, 2023, to 108 months in prison for receipt of child pornography.

According to court documents, the investigation of Justin Richard Mezera, 34, began following a cybertip that Mezera had child pornography-related discussions using his Kik account. Law enforcement executed search warrants at Mezera’s known residences in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City and located multiple devices containing depictions of child pornography, including those depicting masochistic conduct and depicting infants or toddlers. Mezera admitted to possessing, accessing, and receiving child pornography. Following his prison term, Mezera was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay $21,000 in restitution.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC). In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.