Medina County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography Charges

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A 39-year-old repeat offender has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography charges.

Nicholas Keith Sutherland, of Medina, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson after pleading guilty in May to:
• Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
• Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
• Possession of Child Pornography

Sutherland was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $15,000 toward the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which was established in 2015 to provide justice for victims of trafficking, and $30,000 toward the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to the victims.

According to court documents, law enforcement was investigating suspected Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) activity on an online platform and Sutherland was subsequently identified. Pursuant to a federal search warrant, his vehicle, person, and residence were searched. Electronic devices and printed photographs of child pornography were discovered. Sutherland was found to be in possession of over 1,300 images of child pornography.

This was Sutherland's fourth conviction for child pornography charges, having previously been convicted in 2013 for Illegal Use of a Minor in a Nudity Oriented Material, in 2014 for Pandering Sexually Oriented Material Involving a Minor, and in 2018 for Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor.

The investigation was led by the FBI Akron Resident Agency, Medina Police Department and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph P. Dangelo and Nicolette Drotos led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and 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, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.orgLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.