United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

MONTAGUE COUNTY, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT
TO TRANSPORTING AND SHIPPING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jason K. Ware pled guilty today in federal court to one count of transporting and shipping child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Ware, 36, of Sunset, Texas, faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than 15 years nor more than 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution. In addition, as part of his agreement with the government, Ware will forfeit computer equipment and property used to commit the offense. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John H. McBryde on July 18, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Ware is presently in federal custody.

According to documents filed in court today, Ware admitted that on January 28, 2005, he used the Internet to transfer and ship a video of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. That day, an FBI Special Agent, operating in an undercover capacity, entered an AOL chat room entitled “eleven yo miniskirt.” The agent received a message from Ware indicating that he had child pornography to trade. Ware then sent the undercover FBI Special Agent the above-referenced video of child pornography.

On March 31, 2005, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Ware’s residence and during that search, agents encountered Ware at the residence. A forensic examination of Ware’s computer and related storage media was performed and agents found the video that Ware had sent to the undercover FBI Special Agent on January 28, 2005. Ware admitted that he knew the video he sent depicted a real child who was a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

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 C. Lewis is prosecuting the case.

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