FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

November 2, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

 

 

GERMANTOWN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO RECEIPT AND DISTRIBUTION

OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

 

Received and Possessed Over 7,600 Images and/or Videos of Child Pornography, Some Depicting Sadistic or Masochistic Conduct

 

GREENBELT, Maryland - Brian Champagne, age 36, of Germantown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to receipt and distribution of child pornography over the Internet, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

 

According to the statement of facts presented to the court at his guilty plea, in 2005 Champagne subscribed to an online website that allowed subscribers to receive and download thousands of videos and images of child pornography. Champagne’s residence was searched on July 27, 2006 and various computers and computer related media, including three computer hard drives, were seized. The hard drives revealed that Champagne received and possessed over 7,600 images and/or videos of child pornography depicting children between prepubescent age up through early teenage years involved in sexually explicit conduct with both adults and other children. Some of the materials recovered also portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, or other depictions of violence. Additionally, Champagne forwarded images of child pornography to a minor using his cell phone.

 

U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus set sentencing for January 4, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The penalty for receipt and distribution of child pornography is a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, although the parties have agreed that a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment without parole is the appropriate disposition of this case.

 

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their investigative work performed in this case. Mr. Rosenstein also praised Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Gramiccioni, who is prosecuting the case.

 


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