A Hampden Township man convicted in a child pornography case was found dead of an apparent suicide Friday morning, the day he was to start a 5-year federal prison sentence.

The Cumberland County Coroner's Office confirmed an initial finding that Gary S. Smith, 61, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Smith's death comes five days after

, plus a 10-year-probation term, and ordered Smith to pay more than $55,000 in fines and court costs.

Investigators said at least 600 child porn images were found on Smith's computer in 2015 and that Smith was sharing them on a hidden website. A year later, Smith pleaded guilty to a child exploitation charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom said in a sentencing memorandum that during the investigation Smith made a $50,000 donation to a childrens' charity. Smith's lawyers then asked if he could avoid prosecution, a request that was denied, Bloom said.

In a defense memorandum, Smith's lawyer, R. Davis Younts told the judge Smith "fully accepts that his conduct was wrong and that it was far from victimless."