Ron Deming, a 38-year-old resident of LaPorte, Indiana, has been sentenced to 228 months in federal prison after being convicted by a jury of one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography. The sentencing was delivered by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, according to an announcement from Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
In addition to the prison term, Deming will serve 10 years of supervised release and must pay $148,500 in restitution to the victims. He is also required to pay a $25 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
Court documents state that Deming possessed more than 30,000 still images and over 400 videos depicting child sexual abuse material. Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor said, “Each of those many images and videos shows a child suffering horrific abuse. And each time one of those images or videos is received or possessed, the child in it is victimized yet again. As this case shows, this Office and its law-enforcement partners will never cease in our efforts to bring to justice those who victimize children in this manner.”
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with support from the Indiana State Police and the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Katelan McKenzie Doyle prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
