BOSTON - A Florida man was convicted today in federal court on child pornography charges.

DOUGLAS W. BOONE, 48, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to production of child pornography.

Had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that BOONE contacted a 13-year-old Massachusetts girl through the Internet. After communicating with the child for weeks, BOONE persuaded the girl to perform sexual acts for him via the Internet; BOONE recorded these sessions and shared the videos with other pedophiles.

Judge Tauro scheduled sentencing for Jan.19, 2012. BOONE faces up to 30 years in prison, to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release and a $250,000 fine. BOONE has been in custody since his arrest in Fort Myers, Fla., on Oct. 19, 2010

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Robert Bethel, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. The case was investigated by law enforcement in Massachusetts, the Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Justice High Technology Investigative Unit. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorney Andrew McCormack of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.

This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

 

 

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