By RODNEY HART
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A Quincy man was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison after he was found guilty last April in connection with child pornography investigations.

Jeffrey Chambers, 49, was found guilty by a federal jury April 16 after about an hour of deliberation. Chambers could have been sentenced to life in prison for using the Internet to entice minors into sexual activity. He was also found guilty after a 2 1/2-day trial of two counts of child pornography distribution.

Chambers must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Assistant U.S. attorneys Greg Harris and Elly Pierson presented evidence that Chambers engaged in three undercover investigations. Chambers was trying to entice girls ages 13 and 14 to have sex with him, the attorneys said.

Chambers thought he was communicating with underage girls, but instead he was corresponding with undercover law enforcement officers in three different states, authorities said. He never met with any of them, and none of them were from Quincy.

Quincy police assisted in search warrants in June 2007 at Chambers' apartment at 216 N. 18th. Chambers was arrested in early 2008 on subsequent warrants.

Evidence was presented that Chambers' computer contained graphic images and videos of children, including toddlers, engaged in sexual acts with adults.

Chambers, who worked for a local manufacturer in Quincy, has no criminal history in Adams County. Authorities say he has several felony convictions in other states.

The Quincy Police Department, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Washington (Ohio) County Sheriff's Department conducted the investigations.

-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370