United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

IRVING, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSE

DALLAS — Richard Ferrando, 53, of Irving, Texas, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to a criminal information charging one count of attempted possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Ferrando faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced by Judge Boyle on February 24, 2011.

According to documents filed in the case, Ferrando ordered child pornography from a catalogue, sending the company $250 for 10 DVDs. The descriptions of the DVDs specifically stated that they contained child pornography.

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 U.S. 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 the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Schall.

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