Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Possession

BUFFALO, NY—Jonathan Armstrong, 25, of Kenmore, New York, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to two felony charges of possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gretchen L. Wylegala, who handled the case, stated that the defendant had sent child pornography images over the Internet to another person in March 2008. A subsequent search of Armstrong's home revealed that he possessed computer equipment containing numerous (less than 600) child pornography images.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett, Special Agent in Charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. EST in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.