Springfield, Ill. – A federal jury deliberated approximately one hour before returning guilty verdicts against Jeffrey Dean Chambers, 49, of Quincy, Illinois, using the Internet to entice minors to engage in sexual activity and two counts of distribution of child pornography, as announced by Rodger A. Heaton, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Chambers remains detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing which has been scheduled for September 14, 2009.

Evidence was presented by the government during two and one-half days of trial, beginning on April 14, 2009, to show that Chambers engaged in three undercover investigations attempting to entice girls aged 13 and 14 to have sex with him. Evidence was also presented that Chambers’ computer contained graphic images and videos of children, including toddler-aged children, engaged in sexual acts with adults.

For enticement of a minor, the mandatory minimum statutory penalty is 10 years to life in prison and up to life supervised release. For distribution of child pornography, the mandatory minimum statutory penalty is five years in prison and up to 20 years and up to lifetime supervised release following the term of imprisonment.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Quincy Police Department and the Washington County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory K. Harris and Elly M. Peirson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.