Child porn soars in region

 Prince Georges man nabbed; Newport News defendant sent to prison for more than 13 years; Glen Burnie man gets four years in prison

Sean A Rosser charged with distribution of child pornography

(UPPER MARLBORO, MD) – Maryland State Police report that a Prince George’s County man was arrested April 16, 2015 and charged with multiple counts of child pornography after an investigation by members of the Maryland State Police, Computer Crimes Section, Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The suspect is identified as Sean A. Rosser, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Md. Rosser turned himself in to the Maryland State Police today. He was charged with five counts of distributing child pornography and five counts of possession of child pornography. Additional charges are anticipated. Rosser was transported to the Prince George’s County Detention Center to await his initial appearance before a court commissioner.

During an investigation into child pornography distribution on the Internet, evidence was developed by the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that led to a search warrant served at the suspect’s home in March 2015, by a Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigator and agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the Prince Georges County State’s Attorney’s Office. Investigators identified Rosser as the focus of the investigation. Service of the search warrant resulted in the recovery of a computer in Rosser’s control believed to contain images of child pornography. Child pornography was confirmed during a forensic review by State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigators.

The Maryland Internet Crimes against Children Task Force is comprised of police agencies from around the state. Its primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The Task Force works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. Additionally, the Task Force provides community awareness campaigns helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education.

Isaiah Holloman Possessed More Than 600 Images of Child Pornography; Sentenced to 160 months in prison

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Isaiah Al’Von Holloman, 22, of Newport News, Va., was sentenced on April 16, 2015 to 160 months in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release for Receipt of Child Pornography.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk Field Office, and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Washington, D. C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

Holloman plead guilty on January 14, 2015. According to court documents, federal agents identified the defendant via a Peer-to-Peer network on his computer.

On May 29, 2014 members of FBI and Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at the defendant’s apartment in Newport News.

Holloman was home and agreed to speak to the agents. He admitted he conducted Internet activities using on-line applications including Facebook, Instagram, Kik, livechat, Dropbox, anonymous chat, and Sharazza, and that he obtained child pornography using Sharazza.

Further, the federal prosecutor reports that Holloman created and used a Dropbox to obtain and provide images and videos of child pornography. During the search Holloman identified a laptop computer, tablet, and smartphone all belonging to him and all were seized pursuant to the search warrant. A subsequent forensic examination of these devices revealed over 600 images of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa R. McKeel is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Paul Phillip III Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

Admits to Soliciting, Downloading, and Viewing Child Pornography on His Cell Phone, Including Images of Young Children Being Subjected to Physical and Sexual Abuse

BALTIMORE, MD—Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Paul Anthony Philip III, age 31, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 to four years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Judge Blake ordered that upon his release from prison, Philip must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to Philip’s plea agreement, during January and February 2014, Philip logged onto a website designed for video and file sharing. On the website Philip described himself and offered to share child pornography in exchange for “hardcore” pornography involving fathers and daughters. During that time, Philip admits that he received two e-mails, containing images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including pre-pubescent children. For example, on January 29, 2014, Philip received an e-mail containing two images depicting young toddlers subject to abuse and degradation and displayed in a lascivious manner. Philip also sent e-mails with images of child pornography. For example, on January 29, 2014, Philip sent an e-mail which included two video files depicting young infants subjected to sadomasochistic activities.

On August 1, 2014, a search warrant was executed at Philip’s home and his cell phone was seized. Philip admitted that he used his cell phone to access the Internet in order to solicit, trade, download and view child pornography. A forensic examination of Philip’s phone revealed 3783 digital images and videos, all of which contained visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Many of the images included photographs of young children who are bound/restrained and subject to physical and sexual abuse.

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, 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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “resources” tab on the left of the page.