Savoy Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

URBANA, Ill. - Michael E. Hughes, 35, of Lange Ave in Savoy, Illinois, was sentenced today to 32 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm imposed the sentence.

Hughes was arrested on March 10, 2020, following a February 2020 indictment. Hughes was released following a detention hearing on March 12, 2020, but was arrested and detained a year later after the court found that he violated the terms of his pretrial release. Hughes has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since March 12, 2021.

The indictment against Hughes charged that on March 14, 2019, Hughes possessed a cellular telephone containing child pornography. The statutory penalties for the offense are a maximum ten-year term of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson, The charge is the result of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.