A man convicted of sexually exploiting two children was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison today.
Justin James Paisley, 35, of Dubuque, Iowa, received the lengthy prison sentence following a guilty plea on December 18, 2024, for charges of sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography.
During the sentencing hearing, evidence presented indicated that between spring 2022 and May 2024, Paisley collaborated with his co-conspirator, John Dixon, in committing sexual acts against a prepubescent child. They engaged in photographing and videotaping the child during these acts and exchanged these images via text message. Additionally, Paisley took explicit photographs of a second prepubescent child and sent them to Dixon.
This sentencing was carried out in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Paisley was sentenced to 540 months in prison and is also required to serve a 10-year supervised release term post-incarceration. In the federal system, there is no possibility of parole.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combatting the increasing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, which work together at various governmental levels to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For resources on Internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and select the “resources” tab.
Justin Paisley is currently held in the custody of the United States Marshal, awaiting transport to a federal prison.
John Dixon is scheduled for sentencing on June 23, 2025. He remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing. Dixon faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a potential maximum sentence of 50 years, alongside a $500,000 fine, $95,200 in special assessments, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The prosecution of the case has been led by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake, with investigations conducted by the Dubuque Police Department.
