FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
June 22, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DUNDALK MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 24 YEARS IN PRISON FOR PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS TO MINORS
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Christopher Jude Blauvelt, age 40, of Dundalk, Maryland, today to 293 months in prison, followed by supervised release for life, for sexually exploiting a minor to produce explicit pictures, possession of child pornography, two counts of distribution of cocaine to minors and possession of cocaine, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Quarles also ordered Blauvelt to pay a $1,000 fine.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “Federal and state law enforcement agencies are working together to protect children from sexual abuse in Maryland. Twenty four years from now, after Christopher Blauvelt is released from federal prison, he will be supervised by a federal probation officer for the rest of his life.”
According to evidence presented at his five day trial, on January 3, 2007, Blauvelt videotaped his sexual intercourse with a 14 year old girl. His residence was searched on January 11, 2007 and approximately 51 still images and numerous videos documenting the sexual abuse of minors were seized, along with cocaine.
Trial evidence also established that Blauvelt distributed cocaine to the 14 year old girl and another minor between the latter part of 2006 and January 11, 2007. The jury acquitted Blauvelt on two counts of distributing psilocybin (hallucinogenic mushrooms) to a minor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Details about Maryland’s program are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore County Police Department, and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger and his office for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew G. W. Norman, Bonnie S. Greenberg and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shennie Patel, who prosecuted the case.