Robert J. "Bob" Troester U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
An Oklahoma man, Jonathon Chase Russell, has been sentenced to 45 years in federal prison following charges linked to the sexual exploitation of children. The ruling was made by a federal court in Midland, Texas, on March 27, 2025.
Documents presented in court revealed that on January 30, 2024, Russell, aged 36 from Elk City, shared images depicting two minor females engaged in sexually explicit acts on a messaging app. He subsequently sent several of these images to an undercover federal investigator, asserting the minors were three and 11 years old. The FBI used IP tracking to locate Russell at a Midland hotel. During a search of his room, they found children's underwear, a green tactical backpack containing sexual devices, and a smartphone hidden under a refrigerator. This phone contained a large collection of images showing sexual abuse of minors.
Russell faced a three-count indictment filed by the Western District of Texas on February 28, 2024. The charges included possession and distribution of child pornography, and intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He also faced charges in the Western District of Oklahoma for producing visual depictions of minors involved in explicit acts, with the case transferred to Midland. On August 19, 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to all charges after a superseding indictment.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester from the Western District of Oklahoma commended the collaboration that led to the conviction, describing the sentence as evidence of the Department's commitment to child protection. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman of the Western District of Texas commented on the lifelong impact of these offenses on victims and the dedication to holding predators accountable. John Morales, FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge, highlighted the sentence's reflection on the seriousness of the crime and reaffirmed the FBI's resolve to pursue offenders.
The case was investigated by the FBI's El Paso and Oklahoma City field offices with support from the Elk City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz of Oklahoma and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood of Texas.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative targeting child sexual exploitation and abuse, leveraging federal and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. Further details can be found in public filings.
