FAYETTEVILLE -- Three men were sentenced to federal prison Wednesday on unrelated charges of receiving child pornography.
James Gerald Cain, 53, of Springdale was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison.
Edward McMahon, 61, of Lincoln was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison.
Matthew McMullen, 32, of Fort Smith was sentenced to five years in prison.
"The sentences announced today send a strong message that we will continue to aggressively prosecute those involved in child pornography offenses," U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge said in a news release. "Those that possess and view images of child pornography perpetuate this despicable trade and empower those that directly abuse kids."
In August, the Northwest Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identified a computer being used to exchange child pornography via an internet file sharing program. A subsequent investigation revealed the account belonged to Cain.
In October, Cain's home was searched and law enforcement officers seized numerous computers and digital storage devices. Cain admitted to owning the seized equipment and using it to search for and download images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Cain told police he had been downloading child pornography for about 15 years. An examination of Cain's computer revealed one thousand images and/or videos of minors engaging sexually explicit conduct.
Cain was arrested Dec. 3, and pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 4. Cain was also sentenced to 15 years' supervised release after his prison term and a $1,750 fine.
In September, the task force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about someone in Northwest Arkansas posting child pornography online. As a result, members of the task force served a search warrant at McMahon's home in Lincoln and confiscated digital evidence containing child pornography.
McMahon admitted owning the seized equipment and to using it to trade child pornography. An examination of his computer revealed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.
McMahon was arrested on Nov. 21 and pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 4. McMahon was also sentenced to 10 years supervised release after his prison term and a $1,750 fine.
In April 2014, McMullen's home was searched and he told police he downloaded chld pornography and his computer was seized. He was arrested Dec. 2 and pleaded guilty to the charge Jan. 20. McMullen was also sentenced to five years supervised released after his prison term.
NW News on 05/07/2015