United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/
PHONE: (214)659-8600
ARLINGTON, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
FORT WORTH, Texas — Arlington, Texas, resident, Tung Ngo, 43, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil to one count of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Ngo has been in custody since his arrest in late August 2009. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. He will be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is set for April 12, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.
On August 28, 2009, an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement visited the Ngo residence in Arlington, based on a lead from a local ICE undercover investigation. The lead concerned a target at the Ngo residence, who was allowing child pornography to be viewed via the Internet. Ngo allowed the agents to search his computer and related storage media and child pornography was discovered. Ngo admitted he knowingly possessed and acquired child pornography on his computer from the Internet. He admitted using the search terms, “PTHC” and “preteen hardcore” in acquiring his child pornography.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 is being investigated by ICE and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.
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