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Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office February 03, 2009
  • Southern District of Ohio (937) 225-2910

COLUMBUS—Joseph P. Mascari, age 39 of Columbus, pleaded guilty in United States District Court here to one count of possession of child pornography. He faces up to ten years imprisonment, placement on supervised release for up to life, and must register as a sexual offender.

Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith L. Bennett, and other agencies participating in the Central Ohio Cybercrimes Task Force announced the plea entered today before United States District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

Law enforcement agents began investigating Mascari after he contacted an undercover agent to inquire about traveling abroad to have a sexual encounter with a minor. Based on this information and other investigative leads, a search warrant was obtained for Mascari’s Columbus apartment.

While interviewing Mascari, agents learned that he had downloaded child pornography and used a computer software program to try and “wipe” the images from his computer’s hard drive. Forensic examination of his computer revealed approximately 270 images of child pornography and child erotica, as well as one child pornography video. Within these images, 90 identified child-victims of child pornography were identified upon submission of the images to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Judge Marbley will set a date for Mascari’s sentencing. He will remain under court supervision until he is sentenced.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.

Lockhart commended the investigation by Task Force members which, in addition to the FBI, includes officers and agents from the police departments in Westerville, Powell, and Dublin, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigtion, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hunter, who is prosecuting the case.

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