United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced the conviction of JAMES PATRICK NEEDHAM, 53, of Red Lake, Minn., for distributing and possessing images and videos containing child pornography. On May 7, 2013, NEEDHAM was indicted on one count of Distribution of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. On January 9, 2015, following a three-day trial, a federal jury found NEEDHAM guilty on both counts.

“Protecting children from the physical and psychological trauma associated with the distribution of images and videos portraying their sexual abuse is a law enforcement priority,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura M. Provinzino. “This verdict demonstrates that those who possess and distribute child pornography will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I thank the jury members for their service in this very difficult case.”

As proven at trial, NEEDHAM possessed images and videos containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On August 4, 2010, NEEDHAM distributed several images of similar material. According to documents filed in court, the illegal images were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through its “Cyber Tipline.” The NCMEC notified the FBI which, in turn, tracked the username and IP address associated with the illegal images to NEEDHAM’S Red Lake residence. The Red Lake Police Department discovered more than 1,300 images and 100 videos containing child pornography on a computer at NEEDHAM’S home.

U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim will sentence NEEDHAM at a later date, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Police Department in response to “cyber tips” reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura M. Provinzino and Katharine T. Buzicky are prosecuting this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (“PSC”), 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 the U.S. Attorney offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “resources.”

Defendant Information:

• JAMES PATRICK NEEDHAM, 53
• Red Lake, Minn.

Convicted:

• Distribution of Child Pornography, 1 count
• Possession of Child Pornography, 1 count