A Roanoke man, Joshua Jennings, has been sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for possessing over 3,800 images of child pornography. Jennings, aged 43, pled guilty in September 2024 to knowingly receiving child pornography. Upon release from prison, he will be subject to 20 years of supervised release.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents discovered in February 2024 that Jennings's IP address was involved in sharing child pornography online. Further investigation revealed that Jennings was a registered sex offender with two previous state convictions for possessing similar material.
On February 26, 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at the residence linked to Jennings’s IP address and confiscated a HP laptop belonging to him. A forensic examination uncovered more than 3,800 images and video files depicting identified child victims from over 300 known series of child pornography.
The laptop's search history indicated that Jennings had conducted searches related to his sexual interest in children using terms such as “CP,” “PTHC,” and “CP dog.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck announced the sentencing.
The Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with assistance from multiple agencies including the Albemarle County Police Department, Virginia State Police, Virginia Probation & Parole, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Parkersburg Police Department in West Virginia, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched by the Department of Justice in 2006, this nationwide initiative aims to protect children from exploitation and abuse by utilizing resources at federal, state, and local levels to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.