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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
March 17 , 2009
EMPORIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTING CHILD PORN ON LIMEWIRE FILE SHARING SOFTWARE
TOPEKA, KAN. – Norman S. Kidd, 40, Emporia, Kan., has pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said today.
The investigation began in July 2007 when an agent with the FBI Innocent Images Unit in Maryland searched for child pornography on Limewire, a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Rather than downloading or uploading files to a central computer, Limewire users store files on their own hard drives. Limewire allows them to download files from other users’ hard drives and to offer files for download by other users.
The agent downloaded images of child pornography, including photos of girls from 8 to 12 years old who were naked and displaying their genitals, that were stored on Kidd’s computer in Emporia, Kan. On Jan. 31, 2008, agents executed a search warrant at Kidd’s home, where they seized computer equipment containing images of child pornography.
Kidd is set for sentencing June 19. He faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Parker commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. For more information, see www.projectsafechildhood.gov
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