Former Fort Gordon soldier sentenced to federal prison in child pornography case

FILE - The Cyber Center of Excellence is seeking a new logo as Fort Gordon moves closer to an official renaming to Fort Eisenhower.

A former U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Gordon was sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting he distributed child pornography.

Joshua Gamble, 30, was sentenced to 180 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography, according to David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Gamble to pay a fine of $5,000, serve 20 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

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“This sentence should send a clear message to anyone who would try to take advantage of innocent children,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Gamble’s 15 years in prison will give him plenty of time to think about his unacceptable behavior, but more importantly while in prison, he won’t be able to do harm to any more children.”

FBI agents were investigating reports of illegal distribution of child pornography via an internet chat application when they came across Gamble. After searching Gamble’s room in Fort Gordon barracks, they arrested him in October 2021, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prior to joining the U.S. Army in May 2021, Gamble worked as a middle-school paraprofessional in Minnesota, according to the release.

“Joshua Gamble could have served honorably in the military, but instead served his own depravity by using the internet to exploit vulnerable children,” Estes said. “Our vigilant law enforcement partners continue to perform outstanding work in identifying and shutting down these predators.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Fort Gordon US Army soldier sentenced in child porn distribution case