Gladstone Couple Pleads Guilty to Producing, Distributing Child Pornography

 Thursday, March 9, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Gladstone, Mo., husband and wife pleaded guilty in federal court today to producing and distributing pornographic images of two child victims.

Joshua Paul Goodspeed, 47, and Jennifer Goodspeed, 38, pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes. Joshua Goodspeed pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography, one count of attempting to distribute child pornography over the internet, and one count of receiving child pornography over the internet. Jennifer Goodspeed pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to distribute child pornography over the internet.

By pleading guilty today, Joshua Goodspeed admitted he used two child victims to produce child pornography from Jan. 1, 2011, to March 12, 2012. Goodspeed also admitted that he attempted to distribute child pornography on Nov. 17, 2020, and that he received child pornography over the internet on Feb. 29, 2012.

Jennifer Goodspeed admitted that she attempted to distribute an image of child pornography over the internet on Feb. 29, 2012.

Joshua Goodspeed pleaded guilty without a plea agreement.

According to Jennifer Goodspeed’s plea agreement, an FBI undercover investigation identified a social media file-sharing platform, which was knowingly accessing, importing, and maintaining video files that depicted the sadistic sexual exploitation, torture, and abuse of a toddler. Joshua Goodspeed was linked to an account on this social media site.

On June 16, 2012, the FBI executed a search warrant at the Goodspeeds’ residence. Federal agents seized Joshua Goodspeed’s iPhone, laptop and one computer hard drive, and interviewed both defendants. According to the plea agreement, Joshua and Jennifer Goodspeed admitted they took nude photos of two child victims.

Jennifer Goodspeed told investigators she sometimes sent some of the photos to her husband via cell phone or email while he was traveling.

Forensic examiners found hundreds of images of child pornography on the devices seized by agents, including photos of the two child victims that were produced by the Goodspeeds.

Under federal statutes, Joshua Goodspeed is subject a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 70 years in federal prison without parole. Jennifer Goodspeed is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

Under the terms of her plea agreements, Jennifer Goodspeed must pay $5,000 in restitution to each of 12 victims, or $3,000 to each victim if paid within 30 days of the sentencing hearing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo, Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Updated March 9, 2023