An Altoona man has been sentenced by a federal judge to serve 40 months in a federal prison and undergo lifetime supervision for possession of child pornography, a crime that came to light during an FBI investigation that began in Denver, Colo.

The FBI followed an email trail by the user of an account in Denver that contained child pornography, and it led them to Timothy A. Hufford, now 56, of 239 Celtic Lane, Altoona.

FBI forensic examiners on Aug. 18, 2015, arrived at Hufford’s door for a “knock and talk” about what might be on his computer.

According to an FBI affidavit, Hufford consented to the search of his computer after telling agents he “views a lot of pornography via the internet” and reported he had looked at child pornography as recently as two days before the agents arrived at his home.

Hufford then changed his mind about a consent search of the computer and said he wanted an attorney.

The FBI examiners immediately stopped their search of the computer, but according to the affidavit, Hufford continued to speak to investigators, relating that he had received child pornographic images but said it was a “long time ago.”

The agents then obtained a search warrant from a federal judge in Johnstown and found 146 images of minors engaging in “sexually explicit conduct.”

Hufford was indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on May 11, 2016, and entered a guilty plea earlier this year.

He was sentenced last Friday to 40 months in prison, lifetime supervision and ordered to immediately pay a $5,000 assessment. He also forfeited the electronic equipment confiscated by the FBI.

Hufford will be required to register in Pennsylvania as a convicted sex offender, according to a sentencing memorandum filed in October.

Blair County defense attorney Thomas M. Dickey said the standard range sentence for Hufford’s offense was 57 to 71 months but said he asked U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson to impose a lesser sentence.

Dickey said Hufford gave a tearful presentation during the sentencing hearing in which he apologized to the court and to his family.

The defense attorney said that Hufford could have been sentenced up to 20 years for his possession of child pornography.

The defense asked for a lower sentence based on Hufford’s clean criminal record and the fact that he accepted responsibility for his actions.

In his sentencing memorandum, Dickey asked that Hufford receive probation with “minimal period” of detention, with conditions aimed at treatment and rehabilitation.

“He believed he sinned in the eyes of God and was very remorseful for what he had done,” Dickey said after the hearing.

Hufford has already served 19 months in prison.

He has been housed awaiting trial in the Cambria County Prison but will now be transferred to a federal prison to complete his sentence.

The FBI said that the email address that Hufford used was dumptruck1989@yahoo.com.

One message from “dumptruck,” according to an FBI affidavit, read, “I actually like girls from young to about 40. I am not hard to please. … As far as content, hell I like everything. I should start my own club, the pervert club, 101.”