FAYETTE COUNTY, IL — A 40-year-old Vandalia man has been sentenced to five years in prison for distributing child pornography. Bradley L. Matthews came to the attention of law enforcement in February 2019 during an FBI undercover internet investigation of child pornography.

During the investigation, an undercover officer engaged in a conversation with Matthews during which he sent the undercover officer three videos depicting child pornography. In an interview with law enforcement in September 2019, Matthews admitted to distributing child pornography. In addition to the five years in prison,, Matthews will serve a 10-year term of supervised release once out of prison, was fined $200, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the US Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.