Modesto Man Sentenced to over 14 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

FRESNO, Calif. — Jerrid Kunkel, 27, of Modesto, was sentenced today to 14 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receiving and distributing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between April 2014 and December 2017, Kunkel received and distributed at least 600 images of child pornography over the internet from his cellphone.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter prosecuted the case.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.