Judeg Sentences Former Erie Man to 10 Years in Prison for Violating Laws Related to the Sexual Exploitation of Children

ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to three counts and has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison, 20 years of supervised release, a $5,100 special assessment and was ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution to four victims on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on David Anthony Thompson, 37.

According to information presented to the court, Thompson distributed, received and possessed computer images and movies depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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 (CEOS), 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.justice.gov/psc.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Thompson.