Bettendorf Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt, Possession, and Distribution of Child Pornography

DAVENPORT, Iowa - A Bettendorf man was sentenced on April 6, 2026, to 210 months in federal prison for Receipt, Possession, and Distribution of Child Pornography.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received CyberTips that accounts, later determined to be associated with Lucas Zachary Woods, 26, received files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Woods' Bettendorf residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Woods used the devices to receive, view, possess, and distribute images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Woods will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Woods was also ordered to pay $35,000 in restitution.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.