CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – On June 25, 2025, John James Dixon, aged 41, of Dubuque, Iowa, received a sentence of 42 years in federal prison for the crimes of sexually exploiting a child and distributing child pornography. The sentence was determined by Chief Judge C.J. Williams of the United States District Court, following Dixon’s guilty plea on January 22, 2025, to the aforementioned charges.
During the sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that illustrated Dixon and his co-conspirator, Justin James Paisley, engaged in sexual acts with a prepubescent child repeatedly from August 2023 to May 2024. They recorded these acts, taking photographs and videos of the child in sexual situations, which they shared via text messages. Additionally, Paisley recorded and transmitted a photograph to Dixon of a second prepubescent child involved in sexually explicit conduct.
Dixon’s sentence is comprised of 504 months of incarceration, a special assessment fee of $6,000, and a supervised release period of 5 years following his prison term. As there is no parole in the federal system, he will remain in custody until he is transferred to a federal correctional facility.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice initiated in 2006 aimed at combatting child sexual exploitation. The program works collaboratively with federal, state, and local authorities to arrest offenders and protect victims. More information can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/psc, which also provides resources for internet safety education.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake, and the investigation was conducted by the Dubuque Police Department.
