Aurora Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Possession of Child Pornography

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Scott Lynn Garland, age 55, of Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced to serve 120 months (10 years) in federal prison followed by 5 years on supervised release for possession of child pornography.  He was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to identified victims.  Garland appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody and was remanded at its conclusion.  The Denver office of the FBI joined in this announcement. 

Garland first came to the attention of law enforcement when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) showing that accounts associated with Garland were involved in obtaining child pornography. 

FBI agents conducting the subsequent investigation determined that Garland used a number of internet-based programs to communicate with others interested in child pornography.  He also used these services to distribute and receive child pornography.  Agents then obtained access to Garland’s online accounts as well as his personal devices.  They reviewed the content and found child pornography depicting abuse of very young children. 

In total, law enforcement determined that Garland possessed 1,917 still images and 843 video files of child pornography.  Agents determined that he started his collection in approximately 2008.

The child pornography from Garland's devices was sent to NCMEC, which maintains a database of child pornography depicting identified child victims. NCMEC reported that 182 of the videos and 394 of the still images from Garland's collection reflect already identified child victims.

“Mr. Garland used images and videos of very young children with no regard for the carnage his actions caused,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “While the facts of this case are extremely difficult to comprehend, it is important that parents know we’re working to protect their children, and that child predators know we are coming for them.”

“Today’s sentencing of Scott Garland demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigating cases of child sexual abuse material to protect our children from those who engage in this type of activity,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “The teamwork between our agents and law enforcement partners on the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force ensured there is one less predator victimizing the most innocent and vulnerable members of our community.”

The sentence was pronounced by U.S. District Court Christine M. Arguello on July 29, 2020.  Garland was charged by indictment on August 8, 2019, and pleaded guilty on December 19, 2019.  The Denver office of the FBI and their Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted this investigation.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia W. Davies.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-361.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.