NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

JUNE 30, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

FORMER KC RADIO DJ PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORN,

FACES 15 YEARS IN PRISON

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former radio DJ pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving child pornography over the Internet.

Gregory D. Sage, 26, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright this morning to the charge contained in a Jan. 4, 2007, federal indictment. Sage, formerly an on-air personality for Mix 93.3 FM radio station, also operated a business that sold photos of high school athletes from a Web site.

Sage admitted that he received a video of child pornography over the Internet on Aug. 25, 2006. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Sage will be sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole. A formal sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement, detectives from the Lee's Summit, Mo., Police Department received information that Sage enticed a minor to engage in sexual conduct for money. Executing a search warrant on Sept. 1, 2006, officers seized a variety of computer electronic components from Sage.

Sage used Limewire, a file-sharing program, to download multiple child pornography videos. Investigators also found evidence that Sage subscribed to a child pornography newsgroup. Additional evidence retrieved from Sage’s computer indicated that he had received additional videos and more than 100 still images of child pornography, including some images depicting prepubescent children engaging in sexually violent conduct.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Fincham. It was investigated by the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case is being 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

http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov

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