California Man Charged with Use of Interstate Facilities to Transmit Information About a Minor

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Thomas Tatar, age 27, of Banning, California, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on June 13, 2013, and pled guilty to use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; life of supervised release; and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The conviction stems from incidents that took place between March 27, 2012 and May 15, 2012, when Tatar, who was living in California, had multiple communications with a minor girl from South Dakota. The conversations took place over the Internet and affected interstate commerce. Despite knowing that the victim was a minor, Tatar exchanged information with her, including phone numbers, names, and e-mail addresses, for the purpose of engaging in a relationship with her and soliciting child pornography from her. The defendant made repeat requests that the minor photograph herself or video herself and produce material depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct or child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office of California. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for September 10, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.