New Lenox Man Sentenced to More Than Ten Years in Federal Prison for Trading Dozens of Photos and Videos of Child Pornography

CHICAGO — A New Lenox man who traded dozens of photos and videos of child pornography was sentenced today to more than ten years in federal prison.

Using the screen name trckgirl69, TERENCE MEAGHER traded the images and videos with others via a peer-to-peer file-sharing network on the Internet.  Many of the images depicted real prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including portrayals of sadistic and masochistic activity.  Unbeknownst to Meagher, one of the users with whom he shared 88 pornographic images was an undercover law enforcement officer.

Meagher, 47, pleaded guilty last year to one count of transportation of child pornography.  U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer imposed the 124-month sentence in federal court in Chicago.

“By distributing child pornography, through trades with others who sought child pornography, Defendant continued the victimization of children who have been filmed or photographed engaging in acts no child should be part of,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Edenfield argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Defendant’s distribution of child pornography was frequent and extremely serious.”

In addition to sharing the pornographic images, Meagher admitted in a plea agreement that on Jan. 2, 2008, he surreptitiously photographed the private area of a minor child who was under the age of 12. 

The sentencing was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.

The government is represented by Mr. Edenfield.