SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for receiving and distributing child pornography.

Kevin Wilson, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wilson to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.

On May 30, 2019, Wilson pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Wilson uploaded multiple images of child pornography to his Instagram account, which triggered a CyberTipline report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Wilson’s residence on April 2, 2018, and seized a computer and compact discs that contained child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Waynesburg, Kentucky, man who was caught at a traffic stop with 10 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a spare tire was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Kevin Ray Wilson, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 31, 2018, Wilson was found guilty at trial of participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Wilson was driving a 2004 Toyota 4Runner SUV on May 19, 2015, on I-70 eastbound near Highway H. A Lafayette County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy saw Wilson commit a traffic violation by failing to use a turn signal and pulling in front of a semi-tractor trailer in a careless manner. The deputy also noticed that the Toyota displayed two different license plates.

The deputy stopped Wilson’s vehicle. Wilson and his passenger, co-defendant Kenneth W. Dowell, 50, also of Waynesburg, seemed nervous and gave inconsistent statements about their trip. A police drug detection dog indicated a positive alert for the odor of illegal drugs, and the deputy searched the vehicle. 

During the search of the vehicle, the deputy discovered a blanket that was covering a spare tire. The tire was deflated and off the rim. In addition to the tire, there were several pry tools and a sledge hammer lying next to the tire. The rim of the tire was scraped up with large gouges and scrape marks along the outer edge. The deputy used a knife to cut into the tire and located a blue nylon bag concealed inside. Inside the nylon bag were 10 one-pound bundles of methamphetamine. The deputy also found $2,900 (all in $100 bills and wrapped with rubber bands around it) under the front seat; Wilson also had $1,622 in cash at the time of his arrest.

According to court documents, Wilson and others had picked up and transported an additional 10 pounds of methamphetamine shortly before his arrest.

This is Wilson’s fifth felony case overall, and his 35th felony charge. Wilson has an extensive prior criminal record over the past 28 years (since the age of 18) that includes felony convictions for two counts of second-degree robbery occurring on separate dates, first-degree fleeing from police, 24 counts of second-degree criminal possession of forged instrument (in two separate cases), complicity to second-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking over $300 (four counts), and receiving stolen property over $300. Wilson was paroled for the robberies mere weeks before committing this federal offense, after having served approximately 11 years of his 17-year sentence.

Dowell pleaded guilty on Sept. 18, 2017, to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced to three years in federal prison without parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney R. Pratten. It was investigated by the Lafayette County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.