United States of America v. Russell Biathrow

Burlington, Vermont criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with to production of a morphed image of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

, in or about March 2025, Biathrow produced an image of an identifiable minor by cropping a hardcopy image that depicted a prepubescent girl engaging in a sex act. The image was printed on laminated paper and the reverse side of the paper contained cut-out images depicting three different children in various poses and stages of nudity. Biathrow produced the image with the intent of distributing it.

Russell Biathrow, 68, of Killington, Vermont, had a long history of involvement with CSAM. In 2008, Biathrow was convicted of CSAM-related offenses in the Eastern District of North Carolina, receiving a 100-month sentence and a lifetime term of supervised release. After his release from custody, Biathrow had numerous violations of his supervised release, including a 2019 violation for possessing CSAM that resulted in a 78-month term of imprisonment. Biathrow was on federal supervised release in March of 2025 when he produced the morphed image of CSAM.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and thanked the United States Marshals Service for their assistance.

r: Sentencing held on 9/15/2026 for Russell Biathrow (1). Michelle Arra, AUSA present for the government. Emily Kenyon, AFPD present with the defendant. PO Alexandre Bonneville present for probation. Court makes inquiries and adopts the PSR as its findings of fact. Statements by counsel and defendant prior to imposition of sentence. SENTENCE: Count 1s - Imprisonment for a term of 90 months, followed by lifetime supervised release, with special conditions; fine of $10,000 imposed; Special Assessment of $100 imposed. Court makes recommendations to the Bureau of Prisons. Parties notified of the right to appeal. Government moves to dismiss remaining counts.