United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

FEDERAL INDICTMENT CHARGES MAN WITH
DISTRIBUTION AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal grand jury in Fort Worth returned an indictment this week charging 35-year-old Jason K. Ware with one count each of distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Ware appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil for his initial appearance and a detention hearing has been set for February 19, 2008.

The indictment alleges that in January 2005, Ware used the Internet to transfer and ship a video of a minor engaged in sexual intercourse with an adult male. The indictment further alleges that in March 2005, Ware knowingly possessed five computer files, located on computer hard drives and compact disks, which included images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on all counts, Ware faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five nor more than 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

This case is being 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis is prosecuting the case.

# # #