A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for crimes related to child exploitation. Kevin Patrick Sullivan, 43, pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025, to charges including sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
During the sentencing hearing, evidence showed that between 2013 and 2015, Sullivan recorded himself sexually abusing a child and also filmed the child while nude. Law enforcement discovered these recordings on hard drives during a search of Sullivan’s home in January 2025. The investigation revealed that Sullivan had abused the victim in various ways from 2005 through 2016. Additionally, from 2013 until January 2025, he received and possessed thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography; some material involved infants as well as sadistic or masochistic conduct.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Sullivan to 480 months in prison and ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution. Following his release from prison, Sullivan must serve five years of supervised release. Federal law does not allow parole.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
According to the press release: “This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.”
Sullivan is currently being held by U.S. Marshals until transfer to a federal prison.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or Internet safety education resources can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
