United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL
PRISON , WITHOUT PAROLE, ON CHILD PORN CONVICTION

U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas announced that Grand Prairie, Texas resident, Ray Paul Hart was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay to15 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons. Judge Lindsay also ordered Hart to pay a fine of $15,000, and serve a lifetime term of supervised release following prison. Hart, age 44, pled guilty in December to one count of production of child pornography.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), Grand Prairie Police Department, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a federal search warrant at Hart’s residence during an investigation for child pornography. During that search, agents seized evidence that led to the identification of an eight-year old minor whom Hart used to create a video depiction of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

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 collaborative investigative efforts of the FBI, ICAC, ICE, and Grand Prairie PD. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem.

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