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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY, October 20, 2005
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Frank D. Whitney announced that in federal court here today, U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced BRIAN TOD SCHELLENBERGER, 43, of Cary, N. C., to 100 years’ imprisonment, five years’ supervised release, $99,891.79 restitution, and a special assessment of $600.00. SCHELLENBERGER had pled guilty on January 27, 2005, to four counts of sexual exploitation of children; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.
According to the Indictment and evidence presented in court today and at the prior plea hearing, beginning in October, 2002, and continuing until August, 2003, SCHELLENBERGER “did employ, use, persuade, induce, entice and coerce” two minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of child pornography. The indictment also alleged that he possessed a computer, books, magazines, periodicals, films and video tapes which contained numerous images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Further, the indictment alleged that during February and March of 2003, SCHELLENBERGER used an interstate facility to hire another person to commit a murder.
As a result of this investigation, an international ring of persons involved in the manufacture and distribution of child pornography was identified with at least three arrests and convictions.
First Assistant United States Attorney George E.B. Holding stated, “These were horrendous crimes. We are pleased that our vigorous prosecution resulted in a sentence that will ensure the defendant will never leave prison alive.”
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Toronto (Canada) Police Department, and the Cary Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas B. Murphy prosecuted the case for the United States.
News releases and media advisories are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
