News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2009
In matters prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia:
TWO SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Telford Cruikshank, Jr., 42, of Clay, West Virginia, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin to 24 months imprisonment, followed by a 15 year term of supervised release. Cruikshank, who previously pled guilty on May 18, 2009, admitted that he possessed child pornography.
An investigation conducted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed that Cruikshank searched for and downloaded child pornography from the internet using a computer located at his business in Clay, West Virginia. Beginning in at least March 2006, Cruikshank paid for access to two illegal websites hosting child pornography. During the course of his subscription to the child pornography websites, Cruikshank knowingly received and possessed hundreds of images of child pornography. These images were later found on Cruikshank's computer during the execution of a search warrant at his business. Many of the images, depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, contain known children who have been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Also in Charleston, Chad Nesselrotte, 29, of Leivasy, Nicholas County, West Virginia was sentenced yesterday by Chief Judge Goodwin to 30 months in prison to be followed by a 15 year term of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Nesselrotte pled guilty to the charge on April 7, 2009.
Nesselrotte searched for and downloaded child pornography from the internet using a computer located at his residence in Nicholas County, West Virginia. Beginning in at least January 2006, Nesselrotte paid for access to an illegal website hosting child pornography. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement officers found hundreds of images of child pornography on Nesselrotte's computer which he downloaded from various illegal websites. Many of these images depict known children who have been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The images depict prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including sexual intercourse.
The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted both investigation. The prosecutions were handled by Assistant United States Attorney Karen B. Schommer.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. 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 cases and related activities please visit www.usdoj.gov/usao/wvs and www.projectsafechildhood.gov.