FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

October 10, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

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

REISTERSTOWN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

BALTIMORE, Maryland - George Alexander Riegel, age 21, of Reisterstown, 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, on September 19, 2005, an undercover agent from the Buffalo, New York Innocent Images Unit used America Online (AOL) to investigate individuals involved in the transmission and/or receipt of child pornography. While in an AOL chat room, the undercover agent received an e-mail that had a zip file attached containing two video clips depicting an adult male engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a young child. A review of the e-mail header indicated that the zip file was transmitted from an individual using the AOL screen name “CANISSAPIENSREX” on September 19, 2005.

That same day, the undercover agent observed that “CANISSAPIENSREX” was logged onto AOL. During an instant message session with “CANISSAPIENSREX,” the user indicated to the undercover agent that he liked “preteen” images. Shortly thereafter, “CANISSAPIENSREX” e-mailed the undercover agent a video file depicting a male and a prepubescent female engaging in sexually explicit conduct and minutes later, sent another e-mail attaching the file containing the two video clips described above. “CANISSAPIENSREX” was subsequently identified as the defendant’s user name. A search of Riegel’s home revealed between 20 and150 additional images of child pornography on his computer.

Riegel faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and a life term of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, Riegel has agreed that a sentence of 4 years in prison without parole is appropriate to recommend to the court. U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg has scheduled sentencing for January 5, 2007.

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 Christopher Gramiccioni, who is prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—October 10, 2006