Mechanicsburg Resident Federally Charged With Distributing Images Depicting The Sexual Abuse Of Children

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Mechanicsburg man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg on April 13, 2016 for the distribution and possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, John Alexander Driscoll, age 60, allegedly provided images depicting the sexual exploitation of children to an online law enforcement officer.  After obtaining a search warrant, federal and state law enforcement officers located thousands of images and movies containing child pornography.  The indictment alleges  Driscoll engaged in the activity in February and March 2016. 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl Bloom. 

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.  A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 40 years’ imprisonment with a mandatory term of 15 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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