GRADUATE STUDENT SENTENCED TO 97 MONTHS FOR RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Michael Alan Reaid, 28, of Tallahassee, was sentenced Monday to 97 months in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release for the receipt of child pornography, announced Pamela C. Marsh, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Evidence introduced at Reaid’s sentencing showed that on April 29, 2010, he was found in possession of approximately 24,000 images of child pornography, including sadistic and masochistic images, and depictions of sex acts with children as young as two years old. Reaid had also saved approximately 53 “role playing chats” in which he acted out the sexual molestation of children.
The court imposed special conditions of supervision, including that Reaid receive treatment for sex offense, alcohol, and drug issues, that he register as a sex offender, that he have no access to minors, that he notify future employers of his conviction, and that any computer he possesses be subject to search by law enforcement officers, with or without a warrant. Before his arrest, Reaid was pursuing a masters degree in cellular and molecular biology from Florida State University.
Ms. Marsh praised the work of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Office of Homeland Security Investigations), whose joint investigation led to Reaid’s conviction and sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Simpson.
