EUGENE, Ore. — A Coos County man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for distributing thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Ryan Scott Groce, 41, was sentenced to 98 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. A determination regarding restitution for victims will be made at a later date.
According to court documents, Groce distributed at least 15,000 files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online between Nov. 15, 2023, and Nov. 11, 2024. Investigators later searched Groce’s cell phone and discovered file-sharing software that was actively downloading and uploading CSAM. Authorities also found more than 1,000 videos containing child sexual abuse material stored on the device.
Federal officials said the case highlights the ongoing effort to combat online child exploitation.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message: those who exploit children will face significant consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Protecting children and pursuing justice for victims remain among the highest priorities of this office, and we will continue to use every available resource to combat child exploitation and abuse.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials emphasized the scale of the offenses uncovered during the investigation.
“The volume of files distributed by Mr. Groce is staggering,” said HSI Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “The number of victims—many of whom remain unidentified—is deeply troubling. HSI remains committed to leading the global fight against child exploitation and will continue to investigate crimes targeting our most vulnerable population – our children.”
Groce was charged by information on Aug. 21, 2025, with one count of distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Sept. 12, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sweet prosecuted the case.
Federal authorities encourage anyone with information regarding the physical or online exploitation of children to contact HSI at 866-347-2423 or submit a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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