United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

ARLINGTON, TEXAS, MAN ADMITS RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

FORT WORTH, Texas — Stephen E. Watson, of Arlington, Texas, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge John McBryde to one count of receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Watson, 48, faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five nor more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for October 24, 2008. Watson has been in custody since May 1, 2008, when he was arrested on related charges filed in a federal criminal complaint.

As a result of an investigation into a criminal organization operating a commercial child pornography website known as “Home Collection,” agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a federal search warrant at Watson’s residence in Arlington on April 30, 2008. A forensic examination of his computer and related storage media was performed and agents discovered at least 70 images of child pornography and at least three videos of child pornography. Watson admitted that he knowingly received numerous images of child pornography from the internet and that some of the images he received depicted minors 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 ICE. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis is prosecuting the case.

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