United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

69-YEAR-OLD FORT WORTH MAN SENTENCED TO 6 ½ YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — Charles David Lee, 69, of Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 78 months (six and one-half years) in federal prison, following his guilty plea in August to an indictment charging one count of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge McBryde sentenced Lee to pay a $12,500 fine, register as a sex offender, and serve a lifetime of supervised release. Lee has been in custody since late August 2008.

The factual resume filed in the case states that on September 4, 2007, Lee possessed computer hard drives and external storage media which contained visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lee admitted using the internet to download these images of child pornography.

On September 5, 2007, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence in Fort Worth. During the search, agents encountered Lee at the residence. A forensic examination of his computer and related storage media was performed and agents discovered at least 75 images of child pornography.

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 ICE. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis prosecuted the case.

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