Dwayne Cavanaugh, a 56-year-old resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been convicted by a federal jury for receiving and possessing child pornography. The conviction followed a three-day trial overseen by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Cavanaugh was found in possession of child pornography on January 21, 2024. At the time of the offense, he was on supervised release after a previous conviction in 2010 for receipt of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. U.S. Probation Officers discovered an unmonitored cell phone containing child pornography in Cavanaugh’s vehicle.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen W. Dukes and Christian Haugsby prosecuted the matter.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. Project Safe Childhood coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders as well as identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Cavanaugh faces a maximum penalty under federal law of up to 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, supervised release following incarceration, and a fine. Sentencing will be determined by the judge based on relevant statutes and guidelines.
