COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Daniel L. Maguire, III, age 71, of Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 [J&C signed 7/22 and filed 7/23] in federal court in Charleston, for possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2255A(a)(5)(B). Senior United States District Judge Sol Blatt, Jr., of Charleston, sentenced Maguire to 30 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Maguire was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,000 and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that an undercover FBI agent was able to access files of child pornography being shared on the Internet by a peer-to-peer software user located in Charleston. Agents traced the Internet Protocol (IP) address being used to Maguire’s home in Charleston. Agents then executed a federal search warrant at Maguire’s home and seized two computers and an external hard drive. Agents conducted a forensic examination of the devices and discovered thousands of still images and videos of child pornography, including still images and videos of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston office handled the case.

This case was 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.