Croydon Man Sentenced For Making, Distributing Child Pornography

CROYDON, PA — A 27-year-old Croydon man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for making and distributing child pornography with a 3-year-old. Norman Ridgeway was sentenced on June 1, United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania confirmed.

Authorities said in addition to making and distributing child pornography, Ridgeway also had a "massive trove" of child pornography — more than 1,885 images and 225 videos.

When federal and local law enforcement attempted to arrest Ridgeway, he fled in a vehicle, and destroyed additional evidence containing child pornography. While detained at the Federal Detention Center, Ridgeway also called an associate and asked them to destroy additional evidence containing child pornography that the he had secretly stored on a digital memory card.

Ridgeway pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. In addition to the 30-year term of incarceration, he was sentenced to 20 years of supervised release, a $2,000 fine and a special assessment of $300.

“The crimes that this defendant committed against the three-year old victim in this case, and numerous other children, are an abomination,” said Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. “We are pleased with today’s outcome, and we remain dedicated to working on behalf of the victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation to prosecute and incarcerate for lengthy periods of time those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our community.”