Fitzgerald Horton, 45, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania was charged today by Indictment with five counts of using or inducing a child to pose for child pornography images, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 180 years imprisonment, which includes a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, a minimum five year term of supervised release up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1,750,000.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525