FBI Investigation Uncovered More Than 1,500 Illegal Images On Suspect’s Phone

Friday, March 6, 2026, 7:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

HUNTINGTON, W.VA.- A Huntington man has been sentenced to federal prison after investigators discovered he had downloaded and possessed hundreds of digital files depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including images involving violent and sadistic conduct.

     Konnor Wolfe Lyons, 35, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced Monday, March 2, 2026, to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography.

     Under the terms of the sentence imposed in U.S. District Court, Lyons will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release from custody.

     U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers handed down the sentence.

Peer-To-Peer Network Activity;

     According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, Lyons used peer-to-peer file-sharing networks to obtain illegal digital media files containing child pornography.

     Federal investigators determined that on September 24, 2023, Lyons used the file-sharing system to download 464 digital media files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

     As part of his guilty plea, Lyons admitted that he knowingly downloaded the material using an internet connection, and that the files depicted children engaged in sexually explicit acts, including material involving sadistic and masochistic abuse.

     Peer-to-peer networks allow users to directly exchange files between computers connected to the Internet. Federal prosecutors have noted in numerous cases that such networks are frequently used to distribute illegal digital content.

Additional Downloads In 2024;

     Court filings further revealed that Lyons continued to download illegal material months later.

     On September 2, 2024, Lyons again utilized a peer-to-peer file-sharing network to obtain six additional digital media files containing child pornography.

     During the plea process, Lyons admitted that he knowingly downloaded the files and that they depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Search Warrant And Forensic Examination;

     On November 4, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lyons’ residence in Huntington.

     During the search, investigators seized Lyons’ cell phone, which was subsequently subjected to a forensic digital examination.

     Authorities reported that the forensic examination uncovered 1,546 images of child pornography stored on the device, which investigators determined had been downloaded from the internet.

     Federal investigators frequently use advanced forensic tools to recover digital evidence from electronic devices, even when files have been deleted or concealed within storage systems.

Federal Investigation;

     The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case in cooperation with the Parkersburg Police Department.

     United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the sentencing and praised the investigative work that led to Lyons’ conviction.

     The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin.

     Lyons will serve his sentence in the federal Bureau of Prisons system, after which he will remain under federal supervision for 15 years.

     During that time, individuals convicted of federal child exploitation crimes are typically subject to strict conditions, which may include internet restrictions, monitoring requirements, and mandatory participation in treatment programs. 

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher and is based on information and official statements released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, as well as details contained in federal court records. Federal prosecutors continue to use the legal term “child pornography” in charging documents and court proceedings. In recent years, some law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations have increasingly adopted the term child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to emphasize that the images depict the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors. Englebrook Independent News uses terminology consistent with official court filings and government statements.