BOISE — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section), published as received.
BOISE – Chad Joseph Longley, 45, of Boise, was sentenced to 141 months in federal prison with 20 years of supervised release for one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, investigators with the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a tip that Longley possessed child sexual abuse material. ICAC investigators investigated and corroborated this tip which led to a search warrant authorizing law enforcement to search Longley’s residence and digital devices. While executing the search warrant, investigators seized digital devices belonging to Longley. A computer forensic examiner discovered child sexual abuse material on the devices. During an interview, investigators advised Longley of his Miranda rights and he admitted to possessing the child sexual abuse material.
In July 2021, a grand jury charged Longley with the crime of possession of child pornography. While awaiting sentencing, Longley and the Government engaged forensic computer experts to further review the digital devices. This review revealed additional criminal conduct beyond possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, around 2017, Longley had a fake profile of a young female on a social media platform. Posing as a young female, he became social media friends with one of his former students. He tricked the former student into sending him child sexual abuse material. The victim was unaware that it was his teacher using a fake persona when he sent the child sexual abuse material. In March 2024, Longley was indicted by a grand jury for the additional criminal conduct. Longley entered into a new plea agreement, whereby he pleaded guilty to the crime of receiving child pornography and agreed to a jointly recommend a sentence of 141 months in prison with 20 years of supervised release.
On February 4, 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill followed the recommendations and sentenced Longley to 48 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release in his first case involving the possession of child pornography, and to 141 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release in his second case involving the receipt of child pornography. The two sentences will run concurrently to each other.
“The defendant’s actions in taking advantage of a former student are particularly heinous, and he deserves this lengthy prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Our office is fortunate to have outstanding prosecutors who work tirelessly to hold child predators accountable and seek justice for victims. The result in this case would not have been possible without their dedication and that of our law enforcement partners.”
“The actions of this former teacher are reprehensible,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “This sentence represents the hard work of ICAC’s investigators, the federal prosecutor, and the team of professionals committed to stopping these crimes. I’m grateful for their commitment to keep our kids safe from abuse and exploitation, and for the courts that recognize the seriousness of these crimes.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Idaho ICAC Task Force, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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