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Cyber crime unit aids in child porn case

ELLSWORTH — A computer crime unit based in Fort Dodge played a key role in apprehending an Ellsworth man now headed to federal prison on child pornography charges.

Bryan Ross, 26, will serve 25 years in prison for producing and distributing child pornography, according to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.

Prosecutors say he used Facebook and Snapchat to coerce young girls into producing sexually explicit photos and videos. The crimes took place between July 2019 and February 2022.

“Detective Alex Winninger and the Webster County/Fort Dodge Police Department Cyber Crime Unit were instrumental in getting this person off the streets,” Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener said.

Winninger is a Webster County deputy.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Ross to 25 years in prison and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine. He was also ordered to pay $18,649 in restitution to the victims. Ross must also serve an eight year term of supervised release following the prison term.

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