Baltimore, Maryland - Michael Lawrence Manoly, age 36, of Clarksburg, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to using a computer to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court as part of his guilty plea, during February 2006, Manoly, using the screen name “Kevin,” began corresponding over the Internet with a 15 year old female living in Anne Arundel County. Manoly and the victim corresponded through a website which maintained its server in Chicago, Illinois. Manoly, who told the 15 year old female that he was 25 years old, suggested that they meet. Manoly and the girl ultimately met and engaged in sexual relations on several occasions.

On January 19, 2007 search warrants were executed at a residence in Clarksburg, Maryland and in Severn, Maryland. Officers recovered two laptop computers, identified as belonging to Manoly. Investigators found numerous images of child pornography on the computers, including pictures of a 14 year old girl, who investigators were able to identify and who confirmed that she was 14 at the time the images were produced.

Manoly faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison, and a maximum of 30 years in prison followed by supervised release for life. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2008 at 9:15 a.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.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Hanlon, who is prosecuting the case.