FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

September 1, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

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

OWINGS MILLS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION
OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Alexander Massari, age 40, of Owings Mills, Maryland pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts provided to the court as part of the plea agreement, in 2004 the Federal Bureau of Investigation received information that identified Massari as a suspected customer of a business that for a fee would provide customers with access to a child pornography website. On April 5, 2005, FBI agents searched Massari’s home and took a desk top computer found in his bedroom. Agents recovered from the computer correspondence between Massari and the child porn business confirming that Massari had paid for passwords and access information to the child pornography service. Between 10 and 150 images of child pornography were also uncovered, including an image of a six year old female, and another picture in which a female under the age of eighteen is seen naked with the words “cut me” and “hurt me” written in icing on her body. Also found on Massari’s computer was a series of emails between Massari and an adult female discussing the possibility that they, along with the adult female’s daughter described as a minor, would meet for a sexual encounter. During the course of the emails, the female asks Massari if he is a police officer and Massari responded, “would a cop have sent you the Pictures that I sent to you I will send them again.”

Massari faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for life. In the event that Massari is found to have a prior conviction for a qualifying offense under the child pornography statutes, as the government contends, then the maximum penalty would be 20 years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years. U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis has scheduled sentencing for November 22, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. Massari remains detained.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who is prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—September 1, 2006