FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 2, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
WORCESTER MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS’ JAIL FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
BOSTON, MA - A Worcester man was sentenced on Friday in federal court for receiving videos depicting child pornography.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks and Jerry Carmody, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, announced that THOMAS KEVIN CROWLEY, age 48, of Claremont Street in Worcester, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to five years imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. CROWLEY pled guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography on August 7, 2009.
At the earlier plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that a U.S. Postal Inspector, acting in an undercover capacity, posted advertisements on the Internet informing readers that he had child pornography for sale. The advertisements directed readers to an email address at which orders for DVDs could be placed. Among those responding to the advertisements was CROWLEY, who sent emails asking for descriptions and prices of the DVDs being offered. In December 2008, CROWLEY placed an order for five videos that contained child pornography and sent a money order for $120.
An undercover Postal Inspector delivered the videos on January 16 , 2009. Shortly thereafter, Inspectors were admitted to CROWLEY’s apartment and searched it pursuant to a warrant. One of the videos had already been opened by CROWLEY and placed in a DVD player. CROWLEY admitted to ordering the DVDs and seeking images of children engaged in sexual activity. At the time of the arrest, Inspectors obtained consent to search CROWLEY’s computer and found other images and videos containing child pornography.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hennessy of Loucks’ Worcester Branch Office.
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