Ocean Shores Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography Identified Using Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Technology

ART ARNOLD WELLER, 49, of Ocean Shores, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to Receipt of Child Pornography. WELLER faces a mandatory minimum five years, up to twenty years in prison, a $250,000 fine and supervised release of five years to life when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on June 22, 2009.

WELLER was identified through an FBI investigation of the sharing of child pornography through Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing technology. Using a P2P program, FBI investigators determined that a computer utilized by WELLER contained images of child pornography in its shared file folder. On January 23, 2008, agents served a search warrant at WELLER’s Ocean Shores home. A forensic review of WELLER’s computer revealed 2,967 still images of child pornography and 301 videos of child pornography. Many of the images depicted children under the age of twelve.

WELLER was employed as a cook at an Ocean Shores restaurant.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Ocean Shores Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Dion.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.