Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Minnesota man will be spending the next two decades in federal prison for distributing child pornography.

The Acting US Attorney for Minnesota says 47-year-old Craig James Myran was convicted by a federal jury last November for advertising, distributing, and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to court documents, the Bemidji man was "an active participant on the site on the dark web that was dedicated to discussing and trafficking in child sexual abuse material."

The Judge in the Case Cited His "Depraved Mind" in Handing Down the Sentence

Federal prosecutors presented evidence at his trial that showed he "used an account with a unique username to make over 1000 posts in which he shared images of child sexual abuse material" on the dark web website. One post requested specific files of known child sexual abuse material from other users.

Court documents indicate FBI agents executed a search warrant at his apartment in December 2022. Examinations of electronic devices seized during the raid uncovered evidence linking Myran to the user of the account on the dark web site as well as files containing thousands of child sexual abuse materials.

Get our free mobile app

It was also accused of being an active participant on multiple other dark web sites used for trafficking child pornography. At his sentencing hearing, federal prosecutors told the court that Myran reported previously producing child sexual abuse material by screen recording minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct during online webcam interactions.

Myran was sentenced today to 21 years in federal prison followed by 10 years on supervised release. The judge presiding over the hearing cited Myran's "depraved mind" and his refusal to accept any responsibility for creating "a serious need to protect the public."

More Minnesota News:

• Minnesota Woman Sentenced For Infant's Drug Overdose Death
• Southeast Minnesota Residents Warned of Door-Knocking Burglar
• Minnesota Health Dept. Lays Off 170 After Federal Grant Cuts