A Tulsa man has been sentenced for child pornography offenses, according to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Joseph Gunther Sampson, 31, received a sentence of 121 months, followed by 15 years of supervised release, as ruled by U.S. District Judge John D. Russell. He is currently in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation, conducted by the FBI, uncovered communications between Sampson and another individual discussing sexual activities involving minors. In August 2024, during an interview with the FBI, Sampson permitted a search of his phone, where multiple images containing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) were found. Despite claiming the phone was new, Sampson confessed to viewing child pornography over the past five years and sharing such material via a phone application.
Further searches at Sampson's residence revealed three additional electronic devices. Forensic analysis indicated that from December 2023 to August 2024, Sampson handled hundreds of images and videos involving CSAM, including videos of minors under 12.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) contributed to the investigation by analyzing images to identify victims. Their CyberTipline has received over 195 million reports since 1998, and their Child Victim Identification Program, initiated in 2002, has reviewed more than 425 million CSAM images or videos.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project involves federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler prosecuted the case.
For further information on Project Safe Childhood, visit Justice.gov/PSC.