LOS ANGELES – A Simi Valley man who admitted that he distributed child pornography – including a video with a filename indicating an 8-year-old girl was being abused – has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

Eric Allen Haensgen, 38, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Percy Anderson.

Haensgen pleaded guilty on August 22 to one count of distribution of child pornography, admitting that he used peer-to-peer software on his computer to share files that he knew depicted minors, some of whom were under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

During the execution of a search warrant in 2016 at Haensgen's residence, federal law enforcement authorities recovered digital devices that contained at least 114 images of child pornography and at least 3 videos of child pornography.

During yesterday's sentencing hearing, Judge Anderson noted Haensgen's history of possessing child pornography, citing evidence that the defendant in 2003 had paid a website for child pornography. Judge Anderson also found that Haensgen had sexually abused a minor by taking photographs and videos of a 6-year-old girl that focused on her genitals.

Haensgen has been in custody since he was arrested on March 24 by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa Baehr-Jones of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.

Component(s): USAO – California, Central

Contact: Thom Mrozek Spokesperson/Public Affairs Officer United States Attorney's Office Central District of California (Los Angeles) 213-894-6947

Press Release Number: 17-201     Updated November 7, 2017

Central District of California DOJ / Release No. 17-201 / November 7, 2017