United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORN
AND CHILD OBSCENITY CHARGES

LUBBOCK, Texas — Just hours before his trial was to begin, Kerry Wayne Lakey, of San Angelo, Texas, pleaded guilty to a 19-count indictment charging various child obscenity and child pornography offenses, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Lakey, 51, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, who ordered a pre-sentence investigation with sentencing to be scheduled after that investigation is completed. Lakey is in federal custody.

The offenses to which Lakey pleaded and corresponding maximum statutory penalties are:

two counts of distribution of child obscenity
(not less than five or more than 20 years per count)

eight counts of receipt of child obscenity
(not less than five or more than 20 years per count)

three counts of possession of child obscenity
(up to 10 years per count)

one count of transportation of child pornography
(not less than five or more than 20 years per count)

four counts of receipt of child pornography
(not less than five or more than 20 years per count)

one count of possession of child pornography
(up to 10 years per count)

In addition, Lakey faces a fine of up to $250,000 per count and up to a lifetime of supervised release.

According to documents filed with his guilty plea, Lakey admitted that from early December 2007 through April 9, 2008, he intentionally and knowingly collected, possessed, distributed, transported and received the images of child pornography and child obscenity, as outlined in the indictment.

 This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the San Angelo Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven M. Sucsy and Amy Burch of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney's Office are in charge of the prosecution.

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