| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2009 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/CAN |
SAN FRANCISCO – A Berkeley, Calif., resident was sentenced Wednesday to 97 months in prison and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine for transporting child pornography, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced.
Paul Hirsohn pleaded guilty on December 10, 2008 to transporting child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1). According to the defendant’s admission at his change of plea, Hirsohn admitted to bringing child pornography into the United States from Thailand.
Hirsohn, 59, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 8, 2008. He was charged with transporting child pornography.
“Individuals who transport or deal in child pornography often inflict life-long emotional scars on their victims,” Russoniello said. My office will do everything in its power to protect America’s youth. Those who take part in the sexual exploitation of children will be brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This sentence serves as a strong reminder that the sexual exploitation of children is a crime that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Ray Greenlee, deputy special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Investigations in San Francisco. “ICE remains committed to protecting our children and communities from sexual predators by investigating those who seek to victimize children.”
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Maxine M. Chesney. Judge Chesney also imposed a 10 year period of supervised release and ordered Hirsohn to pay a $25,000 fine. The defendant has begun serving his sentence.
Tarek J. Helou is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Hui Chen and Elizabeth Garcia. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Further Information:
Case #: CR-08-229 MMC
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