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Press Release

Somersworth Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Producing Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire

 

            CONCORD - Matthew Felton, 38, of Somersworth, was sentenced to serve 25 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release for production of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant used several social media accounts to disguise his identity, pose as a female representative of a modeling agency, and solicit sexually explicit photographs of young girls purportedly to help them secure modeling contracts. Specifically, he persuaded three girls (ages 12 through 14), all of whom were located in Canada, to photograph themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The girls sent the photographs to the defendant over the Internet.

            Felton pleaded guilty on January 18, 2018.

            “The defendant’s conduct here justified this long prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “On-line predators such as this defendant cause substantial harm to their young victims and must be incarcerated in order to protect the public.  We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who use the Internet to victimize children in order to produce and distribute child pornography.”

             “This case was a great example of what strong coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors can achieve in combatting the scourge of child pornography and child endangerment from those who would engage in such depraved acts”, said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent–In -Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston. “HSI is committed to ensuring that justice is delivered against these type of predators.”

           This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and law enforcement authorities in Canada.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.           

            In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Updated June 13, 2018

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Press Release Number: 18-105