Man convicted of horrendous acts involving multiple counts of child pornography gets to rot in prison for 45-years

An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to 540 months--or 45 years--in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of children.

Jonathon Chase Russell, 36, of Elk City, Oklahoma, was sentenced in a federal court in Midland following a disturbing case that spanned two states and involved the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography.

Court documents reveal that on January 30, 2024, Russell posted 15 images in a messaging app depicting two minor females, aged three and 11, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The following day, he sent three of those images to an undercover federal investigator, identifying the ages of the victims.

The FBI launched an investigation, tracing Russell’s IP addresses to a hotel in Midland, Texas. On February 8, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at the hotel, uncovering disturbing evidence including children’s underwear, a green tactical backpack containing sexual devices, and a smartphone hidden beneath a refrigerator.

Forensic analysis of the phone revealed a large collection of images depicting the sexual abuse of minors.

Russell faced a three-count indictment in the Western District of Texas on February 28, 2024, charging him with possession and distribution of child pornography, as well as travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

On April 3, 2024, he was also indicted in the Western District of Oklahoma for producing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The Oklahoma case was transferred to Midland, where, on August 19, 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to all charges in a superseding indictment that combined the counts from both districts.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas emphasized the severity of the sentence, stating, “The lengthy sentence imposed in this case reflects the immense damage this individual inflicted on multiple children, who will be plagued by these experiences for the rest of their lives.'

" Along with our law enforcement partners and, when necessary, across districts, we will continue to hold accountable the predators who harm the lives of children through illicit sexual crimes.”

U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma praised the collaborative effort, saying, “This defendant’s abhorrent behavior has been put to an end thanks to cooperation between federal prosecutors and law enforcement across the country. The lengthy sentence imposed is yet another example of the Department’s focus on protecting children and serving justice to those who seek to target the most vulnerable in our communities.”

The investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from the Elk City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood prosecuted the case for the Western District of Texas, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz handled the prosecution for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Russell’s sentencing marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable populations from predators operating across state lines.