A Pittsburgh man was ordered to serve 8 1/2 years in prison for distributing material showing the sexual exploitation of a minor.
James Clay Russell, 61, also was ordered to pay $8,600 in restitution to 13 child victims. Court records list payments to the children ranging from $500 to $1,000.
He also must complete 10 years’ supervised release after his prison term.
The sentence was ordered by Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak following Russell’s guilty plea to the charges.
Prosecutors said Chatstep.com detected material from Russell and reported it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That, in turn, triggered an investigation.
When Russell was identified, a search warrant was served at his apartment. Officers seized computers and DVDs they say contained thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
