ROANOKE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Bao Q. Le, age 20, of Roanoke, Virginia, pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography. The plea was entered before the Honorable Samuel G. Wilson, United States District Judge, pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States.

Le was charged in a one count Information filed in United States District Court in Roanoke. According to the Information, plea agreement and evidence presented by Assistant United States Attorney Steve Pfleger, on February 6, 2007, law enforcement officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, and the Roanoke City Police Department interviewed Le at his home in Roanoke, Virginia, after receiving information that Le might have possession of child pornography. During the course of the interview, Le admitted that he downloaded pictures of child pornography over the internet to his computer. A subsequent analysis of Le’s computer revealed that Le had in fact downloaded thousands of images of hard core child pornography over the internet to his computer and stored them on numerous compact discs.

The maximum statutory penalty faced by the defendant is 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by Special Agent David T. Frye, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Pfleger is prosecuting the case.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney 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.