United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

TARRANT COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal grand jury in Fort Worth has returned an indictment charging Howard Klein, 62, of Euless, Texas, with one count of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Klein was arrested and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Charles Bleil on June 16, 2008. Today, Judge Bleil ordered that Klein be detained pending trial, which is scheduled for August 18, 2008.

The indictment alleges that on October 16, 2007, Klein possessed computer hard drives and external storage media which contained visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, Klein faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was brought as part of 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 U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.

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