United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

FORT WORTH MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON
ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION

FORT WORTH, Texas — Ricky Neal Meuir, 44, who pled guilty in November to receiving child pornography, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 20 years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Meuir has been in custody since his arrest in October 2007 at his home on charges outlined in a federal indictment. In addition, Meuir will be required to forfeit all of the computer equipment used in committing the offense and register as a sex offender when released from prison..

Meuir admitted using the Internet to download five picture files of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic examination of Meuir’s computer and related storage media that were seized by Fort Worth Police Department officers when they executed a federal search warrant at his home in September, revealed more than 1,000 images of child pornography and more than 50 video clips of child pornography of children ranging in age from eight to 14.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. 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

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the Fort Worth Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis prosecuted the case.

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