Cobb County Man Sentenced For Distributing Child Pornography

ATLANTA – Corey Charles Plunkett has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for distributing a pornographic image of his one-year-old daughter to an undercover law enforcement officer.

“Distribution of child pornography is in and of itself a heinous crime,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “This case is all the more disturbing because the victim was the defendant’s one-year-old daughter.  We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who exploit our children.”  

“J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “The FBI has, for many years, not only investigated those who would sexually exploit children, but has also helped to educate the public and parents on how to better protect their children.  To see a case, such as this, where the child’s father was sexually exploiting his own child leaves many of our seasoned investigators without words.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the criminal indictment, and information presented in court:  On September 26, 2013, a law enforcement officer in Ohio was engaged in an undercover investigation identifying subjects involved in the on-line victimization of children using two chat rooms known for attracting individuals with a sexual interest in children.  He was contacted by a subject later identified as Corey Charles Plunkett.  Plunkett wrote that he had a one year old daughter and asked whether a one year old was too young for sexual activity.  He also stated that he wanted his daughter to perform oral sex.  Shortly thereafter, Plunkett sent an image of himself, a non-pornographic image of his daughter, and later that day a pornographic image of his daughter to the undercover officer.  During the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s home in Cobb County, Ga., police seized Plunkett’s phone and located the image that Plunkett had sent to the undercover officer.

Plunkett, 27, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced by United States District Judge Steve C. Jones to 12 years in prison to be followed by supervised release for life.  He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.  The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cobb County Police Department.

This case is being 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.

Assistant United States Attorney Jill E. Steinberg prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.