LUZERNE COUNTY MAN ADMITS TO RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a Pittston man pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie to receiving child pornography during December 2005 through July 2007.

Carlson stated that Ronald Stevens, age 42, admitted to downloading images of child pornography from his computers.

Stevens’ prosecution stemmed from an investigation conducted by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pittston Township Police.

Carlson noted that Stevens faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and could be placed on supervised release for life after serving his prison sentence.

Carlson noted that the investigation and prosecution of Stevens are part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created 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.

Carlson noted that the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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