Child Pornography Defendant Sentenced to 45 Years in Jail

ERIE, PA—A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 45 years in prison and lifetime supervised release on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin imposed the sentence on Jeremy Noyes, 33.

According to information presented to the court, Noyes, a former Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine student, possessed, received, and transported numerous images of child pornography on two computers in his home. The investigation began when the FBI received an anonymous tip regarding Noyes’ efforts to facilitate the travel of a mother and her 4-year-old daughter from New Zealand to Erie so that Noyes could engage in sex acts with the minor female. Based on the information received, the FBI searched two of Noyes’ e-mail accounts. These searches revealed numerous images of child pornography involving children as young as infants. Based on the content of Noyes’ e-mail accounts, the FBI then searched Noyes home and seized two computers containing numerous images of child pornography and obscene material.

The investigation and prosecution of Noyes was part of Project Safe Childhood, which was launched in 2006 as a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge McLaughlin stated that Noyes “is the worst nightmare of every parent and child.” Judge McLaughlin also stated that “the overwhelming evidence presented at trial revealed that Noyes is a predatory pedophile and sadist with an interest in the sadistic brutalization and torture of children.” Finally, Judge McLaughlin remarked that Noyes “was not capable of being deterred” and that Noyes’ actions in this case were so “outrageously perverse and shocking” that they were “in a class of their own.”

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Noyes.