A Buchanan, Virginia resident has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography.
Christopher Buono, 45, admitted in January 2025 to one count each of child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography. The sentencing follows an incident in January 2024 at Buono’s home, where he exposed the genitals of a minor female during a party and took photographs of the victim using his cellphone. Later that evening, Buono sent one of the explicit photos via a messaging application to another individual with a sexual interest in minors.
“Individuals who take advantage of children, be it online or in person, must be held accountable for their actions,” United States Attorney C. Todd Gilbert said today. “This sentence sends a clear message that anyone targeting children in the Western District of Virginia will be held accountable to the fullest extent possible.”
The Department of Homeland Security led the investigation with support from the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to identify and prosecute offenders as well as rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
