Press Release
Vernon Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Douglas Shoemaker, Regional Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, announced that SCOTT PIERSON, 57, of VERNON, was arrested on July 19, 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with receipt and possession of child pornography.
The criminal complaint alleges that in March 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General received information that PIERSON, an Administrative Officer assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) Bradley Flight Standards District Office in Enfield, was using his FAA-issued laptop computer to access websites known to contain images of child pornography. Subsequent investigation revealed that PIERSON also downloaded and maintained hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos of children on his FAA-issued laptop computer and other external devices.
Investigators conducted a court-authorized search of PIERSON’s residence and his office yesterday and seized several items, including computers, cell phones and thumb drives. PIERSON was arrested during the search.
Following his arrest, PIERSON appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford.
The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Updated July 22, 2018
Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Component