RUTLAND — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Vermont), published as received.

RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 15, 2026, Russell Biathrow, 68, of Killington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 90 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Judge Mary Kay Lanthier also imposed a fine of $10,000. Biathrow previously pleaded guilty to production of a morphed image of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court records, in or about March 2025, Biathrow produced an image of an identifiable minor by cropping a hardcopy image that depicted a prepubescent girl engaging in a sex act. The image was printed on laminated paper and the reverse side of the paper contained cut-out images depicting three different children in various poses and stages of nudity. Biathrow produced the image with the intent of distributing it.

Biathrow has a long history of involvement with CSAM. In 2008, Biathrow was convicted of CSAM-related offenses in the Eastern District of North Carolina, receiving a 100-month sentence and a lifetime term of supervised release. After his release from custody, Biathrow had numerous violations of his supervised release, including a 2019 violation for possessing CSAM that resulted in a 78-month term of imprisonment. Biathrow was on federal supervised release in March of 2025 when he produced the morphed image of CSAM.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and thanked the United States Marshals Service for their assistance.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Biathrow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.

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. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals 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 Justice.gov/PSC.