Convicted Sex Offender Receives an Additional 48 Month Sentence for Possession of Contraband in Prison

PEORIA, Ill. - A Nashville, Tennessee man, Joseph Nichols, 42, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution ("FCI") in Pekin, has been sentenced to an additional 48 months' imprisonment for possession of contraband in prison.

At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Nichols was convicted of receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography in 2016 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and was sentenced to 216 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In June 2025, Nichols was transferred to FCI-Pekin from another federal prison. Upon his arrival at FCI-Pekin, staff located a razor blade and images of Child Sexual Abuse Material ("CSAM") that were hidden in a prison-issued hearing aid case marked with Nichol's name. Both the images and razor are prohibited items in federal prisons.

Nichols pled guilty in March 2026 to a two-count Information filed in U. S. District Court in Peoria. Judge Hawley noted that possessing CSAM and other prohibited items is a serious offense. Nichols was sentenced to an additional 48 months' imprisonment to be served consecutively to the child pornography sentence he is currently serving.

The statutory penalties for possession of contraband, that included the Child Sexual Abuse Materials, are not more than 5 years imprisonment, followed by not more than 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The penalties for the possession of contraband that included the razor blade are not more than 6 months imprisonment, followed by up to 1 year of supervised release, and up to a $5000 fine.

The case was investigated by Special Investigative Services of FCI Pekin and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.