EAST ST. LOUIS — A 39-year-old Vandalia man has pleaded guilty in federal court in East St. Louis to distributing child pornography.

Bradley L. Matthews came to the attention of law enforcement in February 2019 during an FBI undercover internet investigation of child pornography.

During the investigation, an undercover officer engaged in a conversation with Matthews during which he sent the undercover officer three videos depicting child pornography.

In an interview with law enforcement on September 5, 2019, Matthews admitted to distributing child pornography.

When shown the printout of the conversation with the undercover officer that took place on February 5, 2019, Matthews identified himself as the person in the profile picture and admitted that he was the person who had engaged in the conversation with the undercover officer and distributed the child pornography videos.

He faces between five and 20 years in federal prison and the possibility of a lifetime term of supervised release.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2022, at the federal courthouse. in East St. Louis.

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.

The case was investigated by FBI Springfield Division. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.

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