Sapulpa Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Child Pornography

TULSA, Okla. — A Sapulpa man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. for the Northern District of Oklahoma. A total of at least 20,116 images and videos were found in the defendant’s possession.

Paul D. Edwards, 64, of Sapulpa, entered a plea of guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul J. Cleary to one (1) count of possession and attempted possession of child pornography and five (5) counts of receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography. Edwards is a former Certified Public Accountant for local municipalities and school districts. He has been unemployed since 2008.

According to court documents, in October of 2011, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia office initiated an investigation into individuals utilizing an international website to distribute and collect child pornography. Between February and March of 2013, the HSI obtained log files from Russian law enforcement regarding a user profile which was later traced to Edwards’ residence. There were 20,116 images and videos collected from Edwards’ residence.

Edwards was charged on November 5, 2013. For Count 1, Edwards faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Gallant on behalf of the United States.

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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."