FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
February 24, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:12-cr-00057-LJO SKO

            FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Lewis Gaudinier, 47, of Madera, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

            Gaudinier was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin and pleaded not guilty. He remains in custody, and his next court date is set for April 16, 2012.
According to court documents, a computer was traced to Gaudinier’s home that was receiving images of child pornography via peer-to-peer software. The investigation determined that the computer was making child pornography available to others for download from approximately December 24, 2011 through February 4, 2012. At least 1,000 image files of child pornography were found on Gaudinier’s computer, depicting children three to 14 years old.

            If convicted, Gaudinier faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, if convicted, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

            This case is the product of Operation Direct Connect, a series of investigations by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the King’s County District Attorney’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Offices of Kings, Madera, and Fresno Counties. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.

            This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please 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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