SPOKANE, WA – A 54-year-old man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison following an undercover investigation in which he arranged to meet individuals he believed were offering underage children, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. Jason Foster Frank received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Mary K. Dimke and will also serve a lifetime term of supervised release. Restitution of $10,000 was ordered to one identified victim.

Court documents state that in June 2023, Frank responded to an online post created by law enforcement and communicated with an undercover officer for approximately one week. He was taken into custody when he arrived at a prearranged location in Stevens County. Investigators reported locating two cell phones in his vehicle, including one containing illegal material involving minors.

Frank had previous convictions in Virginia from 2008 for offenses involving minors and was required to register as a sex offender under federal and state law. Officials said the new sentence reflects the seriousness of the case and ongoing efforts to protect children. Leaders with the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations credited strong coordination among agencies for the successful outcome.

The investigation was conducted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on addressing offenses involving the exploitation of minors. Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick prosecuted the federal case, alongside related charges filed at the county level.