An Oklahoma man, Jonathon Chase Russell, 36, has been sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. The sentencing took place on March 27, 2025, in a federal court in Midland, Texas.
According to court documents, Russell posted 15 images on a messaging app depicting two minor females in sexually explicit conduct on January 30, 2024. The following day, he sent three images to an undercover federal investigator, stating the minors were three and 11 years old. Further investigation led FBI agents to locate Russell at a hotel in Midland, where they discovered evidence related to sexual exploitation.
Russell was charged in the Western District of Texas with possession and distribution of child pornography and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He faced an additional indictment in the Western District of Oklahoma for producing visual depictions of a minor in sexually explicit conduct. He pleaded guilty to all charges on August 19, 2024.
"This defendant’s abhorrent behavior has been put to an end thanks to cooperation between federal prosecutors and law enforcement across the country," stated U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. "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 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,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas.
John Morales, FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge, remarked, “The significant sentence imposed on Jonathan Chase Russell sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those individuals who exploit children."
The FBI El Paso and Oklahoma City field offices conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Elk City Police Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood for the Western District of Texas.
This case is part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative, aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about the initiative, visit www.justice.gov/psc.