FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
MARCH 3, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOTTINGHAM MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Baltimore, Maryland - Edward Dahling, age 35, of Nottingham, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography obtained from the Internet, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to his guilty plea, ICE agents investigating an online child pornography business obtained lists of customers who had received pornography from that site, which included Dahling as a customer. On December 10, 2004 ICE agents interviewed Dahling at his home. Dahling admitted that he had been downloading and accessing child pornography sites for years. A search of his computer revealed between 300 and 600 images of child pornography, including images in which children were urinated upon.
Dahling faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison followed by supervised release for life and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
This case was brought as part of 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. Details about Maryland’s program are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who is prosecuting the case.