United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY
TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

SAN ANGELO, Tx. — David Allen Crawford pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lane in federal court in San Angelo to one count of interstate receipt of child pornography. While a sentencing date was not set at today’s hearing, Crawford, 43, faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five years nor more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Crawford is also required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. He has been in custody since his arrest in June on charges outlined in an 11-count federal indictment.

According to documents filed in Court, in 2006, Crawford collected images of child pornography, using his computer to access various sites on the Internet that enabled him to locate and download numerous images and videos of child pornography. Some of the images downloaded by Crawford were obtained from the Internet by using Limewire, a "peer-to-peer" software that allowed Crawford to search for available files to download from other persons' computers, and allowed other persons to search his Limewire shared files to download images and videos of child pornography from his computer.

Crawford further admitted in Court documents that he has engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor, by engaging in two or more separate instances of the sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a minor.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales launched 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 via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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