David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL HOLM, 32, of Oak Street, Branford, pled guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 29, 2008, agents assigned to the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force conducted a court-authorized search at HOLM’s residence and seized a computer. Subsequent forensic analysis of the computer has revealed between 150 and 300 images of child pornography, including images of children under the age of 12 years engaged in acts of bondage and bestiality.
HOLM is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on February 28, 2011, at which time HOLM faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
HOLM is released on a $50,000 bond with several conditions, including that he have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.
This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ray Miller.
The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force investigates crimes occurring over the Internet, including computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment, and online crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.
U.S. Attorney Fein noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
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