LEXINGTON — A Lexington man, Mayank Patel, 58, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 38 years in federal prison for the production and distribution of child pornography.

According to court records, Patel produced images and videos of himself engaged in sexual acts with a minor who was approximately 7 years old at the time. These depictions were found on his electronic devices.

Patel admitted he used a mobile chat application to distribute the images and admitted to being involved in at least 30 online communities dedicated to the exchange of child sexual abuse material. He also admitted he received, distributed and possessed hardcore and violent child sexual abuse material that included serious bodily harm to infants as part of his participation in these various online communities.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP); and Chief Lawrence Weathers of the Lexington Police Department jointly announced the sentencing.

Under federal law, Patel must serve at least 85% of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under lifelong supervision by the U.S. Probation Office.