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Press Release

Lake County Man Sentenced to Nine years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Tennessee

Jackson, TN – A Tiptonville man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, Christopher Chadwick, 41, used his cellular phone to look for websites containing child pornography. Chadwick admitted being responsible for downloading images from those sites including pictures depicting prepubescent girls. Some of the images contained girls as young as 3 or 4 years old.

During the course of the investigation, Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at Chadwick’s home in Tiptonville and located 895 images containing files depicting minor females engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, 15 videos depicting similar acts were found.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Possession of child pornography is a disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims. Under our Project Safe Childhood initiative, we work with the FBI to investigate and federally prosecute computer and internet crimes against children, including possession and distribution of child pornography. We will always seek significant and mandatory minimum sentences for such despicable and predatory behavior, and this successful prosecution has incapacitated a real threat to our children and our community in West Tennessee."

On September 28, 2018, U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Chadwick to 108 months imprisonment; 5 years supervised release and a $5,000 special assessment as required under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Upon his release, Chadwick will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Eskridge prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.

Updated October 1, 2018