Athens Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child Pornography

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - An Athens, Illinois, man, Christopher Wagy, 28, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.

At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Wagy had purchased multiple cellular phones for a minor child in another state and directed her to take explicit photos of herself. Wagy then shared those images on the internet. The government also noted that Wagy continued this conduct despite attempted intervention by the victim's family and law enforcement.

During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless found that Wagy's clear pattern of behavior showed he presented a risk of reoffending and that the sentence imposed was necessary to protect the public.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Wagy in July 2025, and he pleaded guilty to all four counts of the indictment in December 2025.

The statutory penalties for sexual exploitation of a child are 15 to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are five to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.

"A sentence of 28 years ensures that this defendant will not be able to prey upon other young children," said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. "While no sentence can undo what has happened to these victims, our Office will continue to seek justice by prosecuting those who take advantage of our most vulnerable population."

"This defendant went to great lengths to target and manipulate a vulnerable child despite repeated warnings from law enforcement and the victim's family," said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Preseley. "A 28-year sentence ensures that his defiant and predatory behavior is permanently halted. This case is a powerful example of how the FBI works seamlessly with our partners throughout the United States to protect children, no matter where the predator is located."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case along with Goodyear Arizona Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorney's Office in the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Mary Beth Rodgers represented the government in the prosecution.

The case against Wagy was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.