Peoria, Ill. - A Woodford county, Illinois man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison today for receiving and distributing child pornography using the Internet, as announced by Rodger A. Heaton, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Daniel Dixon, age 28, of the 400 block of West State Street, Washburn, Illinois, was also ordered to remain on supervised release for the remainder of his life following his release from federal prison.

Dixon pled guilty to the offense on September 26, 2007. Dixon has been detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in May 2007. On May 7, 2007, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a federal search warrant of Dixon’s residence. A forensic examination of the computer media seized from Dixon’s residence recovered approximately 337 child pornography movies. Of the movies seized, investigators found that at least 12 were sadomasochistic; at least five included children who appeared to be less than one year of age; and at least two included bestiality.

U.S. Attorney Heaton stated, “It is unconscionable that these abhorrent images are available on the Internet. We are deeply committed to bringing the full force of the law to those who commit these crimes.”

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greggory R. Walters.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about this initiative, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.