United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FORT WORTH MAN ADMITS POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — Ronald Scott Young of Fort Worth, 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. Young, 42, was arrested on September 15, 2009, at his home on a federal child pornography charge outlined in a criminal complaint and was later released on bond. 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 has been set for April 12, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.

On September 15, 2009, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents visited the Young residence, based on a lead from ICE offices in Sacramento, California. The lead concerned a target at the Young residence who was trading child pornography over the Internet. An examination of Young’s computer and related storage media was performed and agents discovered child pornography. Young admitted that he had obtained the child pornography via the Internet.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Young told agents during his interview that his preferences in child pornography were male children, ages 13 to 15. He also remarked at the conclusion of the interview that “I always knew this day would come. I knew it was wrong.”

This 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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis is prosecuting the case.

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