WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man whose external computer drive containing thousands of images of child pornography federal agents found buried in a tub of ashes next to his fireplace has pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Elliott L. Bennett, 47, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted that in October 2010 he was using an encrypted peer-to-peer program to collect and distribute child pornography. The investigation began when an FBI agent in New York downloaded child pornography Bennett had stored on a peer-to-peer network using the alias "Damienzden." Investigators followed an electronic trail to Bennett's residence in Wichita.

In December 2010, a detective with the Wichita Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a search warrant at Bennett's home. Investigators found computer equipment, but an external drive was missing. During a second search of the residence, investigators found the missing drive buried in a tub of ashes next to the fireplace in the basement where Bennett slept. Forensic examination of Bennett's computer equipment identified thousands of images of carefully organized child pornography. Bennett filed the images designating levels of access such as "regular user" and "VIP special access required," based upon the level of access those users were providing him to access their child pornography files.

Sentencing is set for June 2. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of 174 months in federal prison.

Grissom commended the FBI, the Wichita Police Department, the Wichita Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.

 

 

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