Home Salt Lake City Press Releases 2010 Dean Frederick Nelson Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court
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Dean Frederick Nelson Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

U.S. Attorney’s Office May 05, 2010
  • District of Montana (406) 657-6101

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on May 5, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, DEAN FREDERICK NELSON, a 33-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to receipt of child pornography. Sentencing has been set for August 4, 2010. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were investigating allegations of child pornography access by users utilizing the peer-to-peer file sharing network. One investigation involved an individual in Billings who had child pornography available via a file sharing program beginning in 2009. Subsequent investigation revealed the individual was NELSON. A federal search warrant was served on NELSON's residence in Billings on August 14, 2009.

When questioned, NELSON admitted that he used the peer-to-peer file sharing programs but when questioned whether he had done so to receive child pornography, he invoked his right to an attorney. Agents seized various computer equipment at NELSON's residence. A subsequent forensic examination revealed hundreds of images and movies of child pornography that NELSON had received via the Internet during 2009 and continued to possess until the equipment was seized. NELSON possessed homosexual child pornography images and movies of children clearly prepubescent and children engaged in sadistic or masochistic abuse or other depictions of violence.

NELSON faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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