Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

BUFFALO—U.S. Attorney, William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that David Murch, 20, of Schaumburg, Illinois, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge William J. Skretny to interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and receipt of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant met the minor victim online and developed a relationship through the Internet and telephone. In 2010, Murch traveled to Western New York from Illinois for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with the minor and transported the minor back to his home in Illinois. At the defendant’s request, the minor victim sent the defendant personal lewd images via text messaging.

“This case began with an online chat between a predator and a child,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Parents are once again reminded to monitor the computer usage of their children and to talk to them about the dangers lurking online.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge, Christopher M. Piehota; the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Grant; and officers of the Schaumburg, Illinois Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Howerton.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.