A Preston resident has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material. Joel Huntsman, 37, who also used the names “Jay Huntsman,” “Joel Feser,” and “Jay Blackburn,” received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven. In addition to the 84-month prison term, Huntsman will be subject to 10 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, the case began in June 2022 when a police officer in New Albany, Ohio, observed several users posting child pornography in a private group chat on the Kik messenger app as part of an undercover investigation. One user was later identified as Huntsman. The matter was referred to Connecticut State Police after Kik submitted a CyberTip related to Huntsman to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
On November 2, 2022, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a court-authorized search at Huntsman’s residence and seized multiple items, including two mobile phones. Analysis revealed images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.
Huntsman was arrested on January 26, 2023, and has remained detained since then. He pleaded guilty on September 9, 2025, to distribution of child pornography.
The investigation involved cooperation between the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and New Albany (Ohio) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Nancy V. Gifford prosecuted the case.
“This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.”
“To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.”