Home Minneapolis Press Releases 2010 Eagan Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography
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Eagan Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office August 25, 2010
  • District of Minnesota (612) 664-5600

A 53-year-old Eagan man was sentenced earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis for distributing child pornography. United States District Court Judge James M. Rosenbaum ordered Keith James Hubbard to serve 300 months in prison on one count of distribution of child pornography. Hubbard was indicted on September 23, 2009, and pleaded guilty on March 29, 2010.

In his plea agreement, Hubbard admitted using the Internet to distribute more than 600 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with some of those images portraying sadistic conduct. On March 31, 2006, an undercover FBI agent was able to download the images from Hubbard’s computer, using Limewire, a file-sharing program.

In imposing the sentence, Judge Rosenbaum dismissed the defense’s argument that Hubbard’s actions were “passive.” Rosenbaum countered that Hubbard actively sought out the pornography and then shared it with others over the Internet.

Following today’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones said, “The worst criminals are those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens and our most valuable resource—our children. Criminals like this defendant target defenseless children to satisfy their own twisted desires. We should not tolerate it as a society. We are proud to be part of a law enforcement community that aggressively pursues, prosecutes, and sentences the actions of Keith Hubbard and others like him.”

Hubbard’s sentence was enhanced because, among other things, he has a 1985 Minnesota State Court conviction for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor. Moreover, Hubbard agrees that following his incarceration, any violation of his conditions of release may result in his imprisonment for the rest of his life.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Eagan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Dees.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (“PSC”), a national initiative, commenced in 2006, to combat the growing epidemic of sexually exploiting children, particularly via the Internet. Earlier this month, United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced a Justice Department strategy to reinvigorate PSC efforts. This new strategy, called the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, highlights a nationwide operation by the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend the 500 most dangerous sex offenders in the U.S. who have failed to comply with federal sex offender registration requirements. The Department is also developing a law enforcement database for use in deconflicting cases and sharing investigative information. Moreover, the Strategy calls for the relaunching of www.projectsafechildhood.gov, the public website aimed at providing information and assistance relative for the fight against the sexual exploitation of children, particularly over the Internet.

The U.S. Department of Justice takes PSC efforts very seriously. During Fiscal Year 2008, U.S. Attorney offices nationwide filed a total of 2,211 indictments against 2,289 people on child pornography-related charges, representing a 33 percent increase in cases from 2006. Still, more than 20,000 images of child pornography will be posted on the Internet this week, and over 50,000 sexual predators will be surfing the Web at any one time. And, most alarming, approximately one in every 33 children will receive an aggressive sexual solicitation via the Internet sometime this year. As a result, this U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners in Minnesota and across the country, pledge to remain committed to protecting our children and bringing sexual offenders to justice.

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