FAYETTEVILLE -- A Wynne man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 15 years in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to one count of receiving child pornography, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Federal agents in January 2020 identified suspected child pornography being made available through a peer-to-peer program from an IP address in Fayetteville, according to court documents. Law enforcement searched the home associated with the IP address in February 2020.
Michael Billy Whitehead, 35, was at the home on the day of the search warrant. Forensic examination of the devices seized from Whitehead yielded images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Whitehead was previously convicted in federal court of receiving child pornography in 2013.
Whitehead listed a Wynne address when booked into the Washington County Detention Center.
A grand jury indicted Whitehead in November. Whitehead entered a plea of guilty in March.
Michael Billy Whitehead
Michael Billy Whitehead