FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORMER PRISON GUARD SENTENCED TO OVER 6 YEARS
FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Sent Streaming Video of Himself Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct to Individual Who He Thought Was a 15 Year Old Girl
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Daniel Charles Trader, age 57, of Pocomoke City, Maryland, formerly a prison guard at the Maryland Department of Corrections at the Eastern Correctional Institute, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release for distribution of child pornography to an undercover officer posing as a 15-year old girl, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett also ordered that Trader must register as a sex offender.
According to the statement of facts presented to the court at his December 11, 2006 guilty plea, Trader initiated contact with an individual he believed to be a 15 year old girl, who was in fact an undercover officer with the Wheaton, Illinois Police Department. From March through May, 2005 Trader left off-line messages, and initiated approximately 32 on-line chat sessions with this individual, repeatedly engaging in sexually explicit discussions. During these conversations, Trader broadcast streaming video of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also transmitted adult and child pornography and then discussed the images, including asking which images the purported 15-year old girl found most sexually arousing. As part of his plea, Trader acknowledged that he transmitted the adult and child pornography to induce the “girl” to engage in sexually explicit conduct, including taking explicit photographs of herself and traveling to meet Trader to have sexual intercourse with him. Furthermore, he encouraged the “girl” to obtain a webcam and transmit nude images of herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Trader admitted that he mailed the “girl” money to purchase erotic clothing and film for the production of sexually explicit photographs of herself and requested that she call him so they could discuss plans to meet in order to engage in, and film themselves engaging in, sexually explicit conduct.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit //www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Wheaton, Illinois Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamera Fine, who is prosecuting the case.