CHATTANOOGA, Tenn - On October 9, 2019, James Nickolas Renfro, 27, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, Senior U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 200 months in federal prison.
Renfro pleaded guilty on June 19, 2019, to distributing child pornography. The defendant admitted in Court that he had placed an online advertisement offering to permit other collectors of child pornography to engage in a live online session with an 8-year-old child while the child was in a bathtub. The advertisement included nude images of an acquaintance’s child in a bathtub. The defendant admitted that his goal was to trade the live sessions for images of child pornography. The defendant surrendered his electronic devices to law enforcement officials, and a subsequent search of his devices revealed numerous images of child pornography.
“Individuals who distribute child pornography further injure innocent victims each time these illegal images are distributed more widely online," said John Condon, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville. “Child sex abuse is one of the most serious crimes HSI investigates due to the lasting psychological and physical damage it can inflict on victims, and as such it will continue to be one of the agency’s highest priorities."
United States Attorney J. Douglas Overbey emphasized the importance of seeking lengthy terms of imprisonment for those convicted of offenses involving the exploitation of children, stating, “Defendants such as Mr. Renfro are dangerous predators, and our office will continue in our vigorous efforts to protect our children, the most vulnerable and innocent of our society."
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent David Nalley. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Brooks prosecuted the case for the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
