Ronnie Craig Lance, a 54-year-old previously convicted sex offender from Amarillo, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession of prepubescent child pornography. Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham announced the sentencing.
Lance was charged in October 2024 and pleaded guilty in mid-January 2025 to federal charges related to possessing child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, Lance admitted to possessing nearly 1,400 videos and over 71,000 images of child sex abuse material on his personal laptop and other devices.
On May 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk sentenced Lance to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison. The judge also ordered Lance to pay $140,000 in restitution to certain victims and serve lifetime supervision following his prison term.
Court records indicate that Lance has a prior federal conviction for child pornography possession from 2011. While residing in Lubbock, Texas, at the time, he pleaded guilty in June 2011 and was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment in September 2011.
Acting U.S. Attorney Meacham commended the investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations – Amarillo and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Frausto prosecuted the current case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam assisting in the prosecution of the earlier case.
