Louisburg Child Predator Sentenced To 18 Years

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced JOSEPH PATRICK MURPHY , 21, of Louisburg to 216 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime of supervised release.  Upon his relase from prison, MURPHY will be required to register as a sex offender.

MURPHY was named in an Indictment filed on May 21, 2013 charging him with three counts of distribution of child pornography and ten counts of the receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  On August 15, 2013, MURPHY pled guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. 

According to the investigation, MURPHY used the internet to distribute numerous images of child pornography to undercover law enforcement agents.  A search warrant was executed at MURPHY’S residence on April 19, 2012.  MURPHY  was present and after being advised of his rights, admitted to having created and used an online account to download and share images and movies of child exploitation.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ethan Ontjes and Jay Exum prosecuted the case for the United States.      This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level.  For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.