A Santee man was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison in a child exploitation case tied to dark web communities, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.

James David Johnson, 58, was sentenced to 151 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for distributing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, according to the Justice Department. Johnson pleaded guilty Oct. 14, 2025, to distributing child pornography.

Federal officials said Johnson was a member of at least five dark web communities dedicated to child sexual abuse material and the sexual exploitation of children. According to court documents cited by the Justice Department, he distributed large volumes of material and advised other users on ways to evade law enforcement.

The Justice Department said FBI agents seized computer devices containing more than 260,000 images and videos of apparent child sexual abuse and exploitation, along with autopsy and crime-scene photos depicting deceased children.

The FBI's San Diego Field Office and Child Exploitation Operational Section investigated the case. This article is based on the Justice Department's Sept. 11 press release.