Anthony Girard, age 40, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on Mar. 19 to 97 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to receiving child pornography. Girard entered his plea on November 12, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address the distribution and possession of child pornography. According to evidence presented at the plea and sentencing hearings, Girard received and possessed child pornography between September 2023 and January 13, 2025. He admitted using file sharing services to exchange over 24,000 files during this period.
Investigators connected Girard’s IP address to thousands of files of child pornography in both 2023 and 2024. On January 13, 2025, agents searched his home and electronic devices. During this time, Girard admitted he deleted file sharing applications from his phone while driving home as law enforcement officers searched his residence. The materials found included depictions involving infants and toddlers as well as sadistic conduct. Girard also has a prior conviction in South Dakota state court for sexual contact without consent.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand imposed a sentence of nearly eight years’ imprisonment along with a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to prison time, Girard was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to victims and $1,100 in fines and assessments. He remains in custody pending transport to a federal facility.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program brings together resources from federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
