June 7, 2010

OLATHE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORN CHARGE THAT STARTED WITH INVESTIGATION IN AUSTRALIA

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Larry L. Howard, 42, Olathe, Kan., has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

In his plea, Howard admitted he took pornographic photos of a 2-year-old girl, which he traded over the Internet for more child pornography. He initially was charged in a criminal complaint alleging the investigation began Sept. 1, 2009, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ( www.missingkids.com ) received a tip that a man in Australia had uploaded child pornography to the Flickr.com website. The Australian Capital Territory Police identified an Australian man as the user who posted the photos and filed child pornography charges against him.

Investigators learned the Australian man had been producing child pornography and swapping files over the Internet with other producers of child pornography around the globe. Among White’s contacts was an American who went by the Internet alias Blyndman68. Australian Federal Police shared the information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Cyber Crimes investigators, who followed Blyndman68's electronic trail to Olathe, Kan. On March 18, 2010, agents of ICE, the Olathe Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service served a search warrant at Howard’s home, resulting his arrest.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 7, 2010. Howard faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Olathe Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and Australian Federal Police investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Marin is prosecuting. This case is being prosecuted as part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood. For more information see www.projectsafechildhood.gov .