FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
APRIL 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DUNDALK MAN PLEADS GUILTY DURING TRIAL TO RECEIPT OF
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Baltimore, Maryland - Scott Carpenter, age 44, of Dundalk, Maryland, pleaded guilty today, the second day of his federal jury trial, to receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Department of Justice Criminal Division.
According to Carpenter’s guilty plea, on November 20, 2006, an undercover FBI agent signed on to a computer file share program and entered a search term known to be associated with images of child pornography. Among the responses was one from an IP address later identified as belonging to Scott Carpenter. The agent downloaded fourteen images of child pornography, depicting children engaging in sexual acts or lasciviously displaying their genitals.
A federal search warrant executed at Carpenter’s home on March 1, 2007, recovered a computer utilized by Carpenter which contained over 100 images/videos of children engaged in sexual acts.
Carpenter faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years, and a maximum of 20 years in prison, followed by supervised release for life. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for June 27, 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. Details about Maryland’s program are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham and Trial Attorney LisaMarie Freitas of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the case.