A Portland man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing more than 200 images of child sexual abuse material. David Lee Cannon, 36, who is a registered sex offender due to a prior conviction in 2009 for similar offenses, will also serve a lifetime term of supervised release.
Law enforcement discovered Cannon’s activities in February 2024 during an investigation involving his uncle. According to court documents, Cannon used the encrypted messaging app Telegram to request illicit images from his uncle. A search of his devices revealed additional illegal material.
Cannon was arrested in Milwaukie, Oregon after agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tracked his cellphone. He was formally charged on April 28, 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025 to possession of child pornography.
“The pursuit of individuals who exploit and abuse children is our highest priority,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “With today’s sentence, Mr. Cannon will spend the next 10 years behind bars, unable to victimize any other children.”
April Miller, acting Special Agent in Charge at HSI Seattle stated: “HSI leverages advanced technology and every resource within its legal authority to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who possess child exploitation and sexual abuse material. Our unwavering commitment is to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that those who prey on children are held accountable.”
The case was investigated by HSI with help from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mira Chernick and Paul Maloney.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. The Department of Justice notes that sharing these materials online causes ongoing harm by re-victimizing children each time their images are viewed.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
For resources related to missing or exploited children visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
