Richmond Federal Child Pornography Lawyer

Richmond is part of the Eastern District of Virginia. The Eastern District of Virginia has a reputation nationwide as being one of the fastest and harshest federal court systems in the country. In fact, it is often referred to as the “Rocket Docket.” This is not a place where the accused can afford to be reckless or unprepared. Every action must be carefully considered, deliberate, and informed by experience in this court and its unique culture.

Our legal team understands every aspect of the Richmond Division of the U.S. District Court located at the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige Jr. Courthouse and is prepared to aggressively and strategically protect your rights with discretion and finesse.

In 2023, the Eastern District of Virginia recorded 55 people sentenced for federal child pornography crimes, more than any other federal district. Nationally, only 1.2% of child pornography cases involve women.

There are several federal child pornography laws in place that are seriously enforced in Richmond and the rest of the country. Some of these laws include:

• 18 U.S.C. § 2251. This statute would be violated if a person lures, entices, or coerces a minor to participate in sexually explicit conduct, with the intent of producing visual representations. A conviction requires a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
• 18 U.S.C. § 2252. These subsections examine acts related to obtaining, distributing, and simple possession of child pornography. Receipt and distribution both have mandatory minimums of five years, and simple possession, while having no minimum, can carry long terms of imprisonment under the federal Sentencing Guidelines.
• 18 U.S.C. § 1466A. The law forbids obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse through any media, even when no actual child is involved, such as through artificially generated images.

The government isn’t required to demonstrate intent to harm a child but must show that the defendant knowingly received, distributed, or possessed material that legally qualifies as child pornography.

Sentencing guidelines mandate increased penalties for cases involving multiple images of prepubescent subjects, along with file distribution through computers and other factors. The application of these enhancements results in additional sentencing years.

Since these are federal crimes, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), or, in some cases, the Postal Inspection Service will investigate these cases. Sting operations generate leads alongside peer-to-peer network monitoring and referrals from companies such as Google or Dropbox that use AI to detect activity.
Federal child pornography investigations often start with technical evidence—sometimes including deleted or temporary internet files.
If you’re interested in how federal charges are constructed and how your online activity could be tracked, understanding the investigation process and your digital footprint is essential.

Legal knowledge helps construct defenses while preventing clients from making errors that lead to increased legal jeopardy. Prosecutors in Richmond frequently stack charges and push for enhancements, which makes it essential to understand the law.

Our team regularly appears in the Richmond federal courthouse and has established familiarity with its judges, magistrates, and operational procedures. We attained courtroom success in federal child pornography cases ranging from challenging overbroad search warrants and malware-related file disputes to Miranda rights violations.

The federal child pornography attorneys at Johnson/Citronberg, PLLC combine years of experience with a caring, nonjudgmental perspective that is afforded to each client. With offices in Alexandria and Atlanta, we represent clients throughout the country, with a special focus on complex, high-risk cases involving digital evidence.

Our Richmond firm excels in relentless pretrial litigation while maintaining a network of professional witnesses and strategic sentencing knowledge. We defend people who are under investigation and those who have been indicted.
If you or someone you know is facing federal child pornography accusations, it’s vital to understand all possible legal defenses—including challenging the validity of search warrants, raising issues of intent, or addressing questions of computer access by others.
We’ve also seen cases where clients have been falsely accused, highlighting how complex these situations can be.

When Did Child Pornography Become Illegal?

Child pornography was first made illegal at the federal level in 1977 with the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act. The law made it illegal to use minors in sexually explicit materials. It saw significant expansions in 1984 and 1996 to cover the possession and distribution of materials with special emphasis on digital production.

Is Pornography Legal in the US?

Yes, pornography is legal in the United States. However, child pornography is not. Adult pornography is legal in the United States, so long as it is made and distributed with the consent of adults and does not fall within the legal definition of obscenity. Obscenity, which is not protected under the First Amendment, is defined by community standards set forth in the Miller test.

What Specifically Did the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 Criminalize?

The Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 was a federal statute that prohibited not only traditional child pornography but also virtual or computer-generated images that appear to be of a minor engaging in sexual activity. The act was an effort to broaden the definition of child pornography beyond what had been defined by the Supreme Court, as some of its terminology was considered too broad.

When Was the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program Created?

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program was created in 1998 by the United States Department of Justice. It is a cooperative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force is to provide state and local law enforcement with the tools they need to successfully combat the increasing use of the internet for child pornography.

If you or a loved one has been charged with federal child pornography crimes in Richmond, Johnson/Citronberg, PLLC can help. With mandatory minimum sentences and a federal court system that moves quickly, your defense matters for the security of your future.

Our team has the legal skill and local courtroom experience to provide you with an effective defense. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We can listen to your side of the story without judgment and provide a vigorous defense on your behalf, with discretion and urgency.