BISMARCK — An airman at Minot Air Force Base who pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Carl Deshawn Dean, 21, was accused of creating a fake female persona and soliciting sexual images of children online. He pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography after investigators learned he received and distributed child pornography while serving at the base between December 2016 and March 2018, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley's office.

In addition to distributing images of child sexual abuse, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations learned Dean sought out people who had access to children and asked them to take nude photos and participate in sex acts with children. Dean used Gmail, Facebook and apps including Snapchat and WhatsApp to solicit the images, the release said.

Investigators found 878 images and 42 videos of apparent child pornography in Dean's electronic media and were able to match 693 images and 15 videos to known child pornography images, according to the release. Dean also shared images and videos of child sex abuse 200 to 300 times.

Chief Federal District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland handed down the prison sentence Monday, Oct. 28, which will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Dean was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Crime Victim's Fund.