United States of America v. Metallie Leigh Gillette

Davenport, Iowa, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with sexual exploitation of a child in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2251 and distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2252.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Metallie Leigh Gillette, 27, created child sexual abuse material by sexually exploiting a minor child and then distributed the files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized an electronic device during a search of Gillette’s Fort Madison residence that Gillette used to distribute and attempt to sell images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. The individual Gillette sent the child sexual abuse material to was David Enrique Remigio, 30 of Burlington, who was sentenced in March 2025 to 16 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.

The Des Moines County Sheriff's Office investigated the case with assistance from the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team, the Burlington Police Department, DCI ICAC, and the United States Marshal Service.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. After completing her term of imprisonment, Gillette will be required to serve a seven-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Gillette was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.