RICHMOND, VA—Michael P. Johnson, 49, of Stafford County, was sentenced yesterday to 360 months in prison for production of child pornography. The court also ordered that Johnson remain on supervised release for life, following his release from incarceration.

“For approximately three years, Michael P. Johnson repeatedly raped and sodomized a child and produced hundreds of images and videos memorializing the abuse,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The physical, emotional, and psychological harm a child suffers from sexual abuse and sexual exploitation through molestation and the production of child pornography is well known. This case is no different. The harm the victim has suffered at the hands of Johnson will significantly impact the victim for the rest of their life. The sentence Johnson earned yesterday provides just punishment for this egregious offense and addresses the substantial needs of deterrence, protection of the community, and promotion of respect for the law.”

”By his own admission, Mr. Johnson violated a young child, stripping them of their innocence and forever tarnishing their childhood,” said Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “A tremendous amount of time and energy was invested by investigators in this case, sorting through massive amounts of evidence; demonstrating the FBI’s commitment to expose and hold accountable those who prey on our youth, and offer justice for the victims left in their wake.”

Johnson pleaded guilty on July 8, 2015. According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Johnson was identified after the FBI learned that a computer located within his residence was using a website to upload and download files containing child pornography. Based on this information, the FBI obtained and executed a search warrant for Johnson’s residence on April 22, 2015. During the search, Johnson agreed to be interviewed and admitted that he would use the Internet to search for, download, and distribute child pornography. Johnson also admitted sexually abusing a four- or five-year-old female for approximately three years and to photographing and recording the abuse.

At the conclusion of the search, the FBI seized numerous pieces of computer equipment. A forensic examination of the seized items revealed the video to which Johnson pled guilty, as well as an additional 260 images and 102 videos of the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, the FBI recovered more than 146,000 images and 22,000 videos of child pornography from Johnson’s computers.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Virginia Attorney General; and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Johnstone IV prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:15-cr-84.