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Press Release

Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana
PACER Case Reference: 14-27

MISSOULA – A Mount Washington, Kentucky man has changed his plea to guilty for his role in an international child pornography web-based bulletin board.  Ryan Hatfield, 25, plead guilty today to conspiracy to advertise child pornography in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch.  Sentencing has been set for June 11, 2015 where Hatfield faces maximum penalties of 30 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson told the court that in April 2012, Hatfield became an active member of an international child pornography web-based bulletin board.  Hatfield made posts in the advanced member section of the board which included URL hyperlinks and preview images of child pornography. In addition, Hatfield requested child pornography from other members and responded to and commented on posts of child pornography on the board.

The investigation, referred to as Operation Moon Runner, is an ongoing cooperative effort between the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, FBI, Montana Department of Criminal Investigations, Helena and Polson Police Departments, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Northumbria Police Department in the United Kingdom.

Updated March 4, 2015