Former Federal Employee Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eric Worrell, 57, of Rancho Cordova and formerly a federal Department of Transportation employee, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Troy L. Nunley to five years in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. On release, Worrell will be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, a thumb drive found in a hallway outside the offices of the federal Department of Transportation in Sacramento was turned over to investigators, who determined it belonged to Worrell. A forensic review of the thumb drive and Worrell’s work laptop found they contained hundreds of images of child erotica and child pornography. Worrell told agents that he would carry this thumb drive with him so that he would not leave the materials at home where his family members could find them.

“Countless children around the world fall prey to sexual predators. It is our priority to make every effort to keep our children safe,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI San Francisco. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we work tirelessly to search out criminals who seek to harm or exploit innocent children and hold them accountable for their actions.”

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Josh F. Sigal prosecuted the case.

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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.