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Press Release

Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia
Facebook flagged illegal image downloaded by Navy Petty Officer

NORFOLK, Va. – Bruce Michael Jarvela II, age 41, of Virginia Beach was sentenced today to 97 months in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Susan E. Triesch, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar.

Jarvela pled guilty to the charge on September 4, 2014.  According to court documents, Jarvela, an active duty petty officer in the Navy, downloaded an image of child pornography to his Facebook page and then tried to distribute that image to another Facebook user.  Facebook flagged the image, shut down Jarvela’s account, and notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  Investigators executed a search warrant on Jarvela’s Virginia Beach residence in November 2013.  They seized numerous pieces of computer equipment.   Jarvela had been downloading images since 2003 and sharing with others via chat rooms and email since 2008.  He is attributed with having 775 images.
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Randy Stoker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No.  2:14-cr-101.

Updated March 24, 2015