Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
A sex offender from Amarillo, Texas, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession of prepubescent child pornography. Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad E. Meacham, announced the sentencing of Ronnie Craig Lance, aged 54.
Lance was charged in October 2024 and pleaded guilty in January 2025 to possessing a significant amount of child sexual abuse material. Court documents reveal that he had nearly 1,400 videos and over 71,000 images on his personal devices. On May 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk sentenced him to 240 months in federal prison. Additionally, Lance is required to pay $140,000 in restitution to certain victims and will be under lifetime supervision after his release.
This is not Lance's first conviction for similar offenses. In 2011, while living in Lubbock, Texas, he was found with child pornography and faced federal charges. After pleading guilty in June 2011, he received an 87-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings.
Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham commended the investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations – Amarillo and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Frausto prosecuted this case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam on the earlier case.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse since its launch in May 2006. The project coordinates resources across federal, state, and local levels to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
