FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - May 17, 2011

HAVELOCK MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON
FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced TERRANCE KEVIN QUALLS, 43, of Havelock, North Carolina, to 400 months’ imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. QUALLS is required to register as a sex offender. The Court also imposed restitution in the amount of $5,000.00.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on October 24, 2010. On February 17, 2011, QUALLS pled guilty to receipt of child pornography.

According to the investigation, in January, 2010, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation relating to the distribution of child pornography through Gnutella, a peer-to-peer file sharing network. During the investigation a computer was discovered that was sharing 41 files containing child pornography and identified as belonging to QUALLS. On February 16, 2010, a search warrant was executed at QUALLS residence, where eight computer hard drives, along with CD and DVD disks were confiscated. Forensic examination of the computer revealed 1,806 still images and 350 videos of child pornography.

This case is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jay Exum represented the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.