Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced today that Robert Tuck, age 65, of Valdosta, Georgia, was sentenced on Wednesday, June 27, 2011, by the Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Judge, in Valdosta, Georgia.  Tuck was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison followed by 25 years supervised release, and ordered to register as a sex offender for possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B).  A restitution hearing has been scheduled for September 26, 2011 to determine whether restitution will be awarded to identified minor victims.

Tuck pleaded guilty to the one count information of possession of child pornography on May 2, 2011. 

Tuck stipulated in his plea agreement that through the use of a computer he possessed more than 600 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and that some of the videos and images involved prepubescent minors and children under the age of 12 years.
    
Tuck became a subject of investigation as part of a national Project Safe Childhood operation which targeted individuals who had sent money orders to a known child pornography company in Russia.  Tuck ordered child pornography in response to a solicitation sent by an undercover Postal Inspector.  Following execution of a search warrant at Tuck’s residence, agents found the child pornography on Tuck’s computers.

“With every photograph, a child was victimized; and every time these photos were viewed, the child was victimized again.  This office will speak up for child victims and will spare no effort to see that those who prey on them go to jail,” said United States Attorney Moore.     
      
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers. 

For any additional information, please contact Ms. Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, Macon, Georgia at (478) 621-2602.