Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that TIMOTHY J. ALLEN, 34, of Torrington, was arrested yesterday and charged by federal criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography.

Following his arrest, ALLEN appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam in New Haven and was released on a $50,000 bond under electronic monitoring.

The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacabed Rodriguez-Coss.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.