Santa Rosa Man Sentenced to 40 Years for the Production, Advertisement, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography

SAN FRANCISCO—Dylan Josh Zara was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison for the production, advertisement, distribution, and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson.

Zara pleaded guilty on June 12, 2013, to two counts of production of child pornography, one count of advertisement of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Zara admitted to using two child victims, both under the age of seven, to produce child pornography, which he advertised and distributed.

Zara, 31, of Santa Rosa, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 3, 2011. He was charged with the production, advertisement, distribution, and possession of child pornography.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, United States District Court Judge, following a guilty plea on six counts in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a), 2241(d), 2252(a)(2) and 2252(a)(4)(B). Judge Illston also sentenced the defendant to a lifetime period of supervised release. The defendant has been in custody since his arrest.

Laura Vartain Horn is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.