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Midwest City Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Child Pornography Possession

Christian Nathaniel Rafford, 41, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for possessing hundreds of images of child pornography.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 1, 2026, 4:26 p.m. ET
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Christian Nathaniel Rafford, 41, of Midwest City, was on August 31, 2026, to 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester on September 1, 2026. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk, who also ordered ten years of supervised release. According to public records, between June 13, 2025, and August 12, 2025, Rafford possessed hundreds of images of child pornography, some depicting prepubescent minors, which he accessed using the BitTorrent file-sharing network. He was arrested on August 12, 2025, after a search warrant was executed at his Midwest City apartment. A federal grand jury charged him on November 18, 2025, and he pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026, admitting he knowingly possessed the images. U.S. Attorney Troester stated, "The exploitation of children is among the most reprehensible crimes in society. This 15-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Rafford's conduct and the lasting harm inflicted on victims." FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater added, "Protecting children from online exploitation is one of the FBI's highest priorities." The case was brought under Operation Relentless Justice, a nationwide effort that resulted in over 293 arrests and the location of more than 205 child victims. It is also part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative to combat child sexual exploitation. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Ganz and Brandon Hale.

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  1. Version 11 Sept 2026, 20:26current

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