FOR FURTHERINFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or

MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885  
FEBRUARY 27, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

ANNAPOLIS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TRANSPORTATION
OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Baltimore, Maryland - Frank Pierce Young, age 78, of Annapolis, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to transportation of child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court as part of his guilty plea, from January 2007, Young would enter chat sessions available on AOL and “invite” participants to have private instant messaging conversations with him. Among the participants Young chatted with was a user with the AOL profile “14 year old female from Ohio.” In fact, unbeknownst to Young, this screen name was being used by an undercover officer investigating crimes against children, including pornography offenses under state and federal law.

From January 2007 through at least July 2007, Young had numerous on-line conversations with the“14 year old female” during which he transmitted images of children in sexually explicit poses and engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Young has been collecting, receiving and trading child pornography for approximately 10 years.

Young faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years, and a maximum of 20 years in prison followed by supervised release for life for transporting child pornography. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for May 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ 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.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Wilkinson, who is prosecuting the case.