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Distributor of Child Pornography Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment

U.S. Attorney’s Office December 28, 2009
  • Northern District of California (415) 436-7200

OAKLAND, CA—Phillip Joseph Sullivan was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison for distribution of child pornography, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced.

Sullivan was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 13, 2008, on charges of distribution, transportation and possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C.§ 2252(a)(2), 18 U.S.C.§ 2252(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C.§ 2252(a)(4)(B). On Aug. 27, 2009, he pleaded guilty, with a plea agreement, to one charge of child pornography distribution.

According to court documents, the defendant distributed graphic images of child pornography through his AOL user accounts. The defendant’s child pornography collection contained more than 2,000 images including images of prepubescent children being penetrated, bound, and sodomized. The defendant frequented AOL chat rooms dedicated to discussions about sexual conduct with children. The defendant had previously admitted to touching a 6-year-old female friend of his daughter at his home, conduct which ultimately resulted in a state court conviction and led to the requirement that he register as a sex offender in 1981.

The sentence was handed down on Dec. 23, 2009, by U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton, following a guilty plea on one count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C.§ 2252(a)(2). Judge Hamilton also sentenced the defendant to a 10-year term of supervised release, which will follow his prison sentence. Upon release, Sullivan is subject to restrictions on computer usage, location of his residence, a search condition and continuing registration as a sex offender. The defendant began serving his sentence on December 23.

Katherine B. Dowling is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rawaty Yim and Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

Further Information:
Case #: 08-0823 PJH

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