FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
January 28, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: CR-F-10-00205 LJO

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Adam Howe, 30, of Lemoore, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to receipt of images of child pornography. Howe agreed to serve a sentence of 9 years in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of 15 years during which his access to computers, the Internet, and minors will be restricted. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) working together as part of the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Gappa.

   According to court documents, Howe used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to receive images of child pornography between January 1, 2010 and April 2, 2010, in Kings County. The offense involved more than 600 total images, some of which were of prepubescent minors, and some of which depicted the victims being subjected to violence or sadistic conduct. At the time of his arrest, Howe was on active duty with the U.S. Navy as an aircraft mechanic.

Howe was remanded into custody after his change of plea today. The court has scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 8, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. The actual sentence imposed by the court will depend on numerous factors including consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC mobilizes federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and ask to speak with the PSC coordinator.   

  

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