Groton Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT WUNSCH, 60, of Groton, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 9, 2007, special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a court-authorized search of WUNSCH’s residence on information that WUNSCH’s home computer was used in the Internet sharing of sexually explicit images of minors. Subsequent analysis of home computers, external hard drives, and related equipment that were seized during the search revealed the existence of 448 still images and 15 videos of child pornography, including numerous photographs of children under the age of 12.

On February 16, 2010, WUNSCH pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

U.S. Attorney Fein noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut’s “Operation Constant Vigilance,” which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com