FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 14, 2008
KENNETH EDWARD THREADGILL SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on January 14, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, KENNETH EDWARD THREADGILL, a 53-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared for sentencing. THREADGILL was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 1,020 months (85 years)
- Special Assessment: $800
- Forfeiture: computer equipment and cameras
- Supervised Release: lifetime
THREADGILL was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children and receipt and possession of child pornography.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
The Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) initiated an operation targeting peer-to-peer file sharing networks offering child pornography. In November of 2006, a computer utilizing an IP address used by THREADGILL had images of child pornography available to other peer-to-peer users.
Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement followed up on this information and THREADGILL consented to a search of his personal computers. A scan of these computers showed the presence of images of child pornography and a search warrant was executed at THREADGILL'S residence in Great Falls. Pursuant to the search warrant, additional computer equipment and storage devices were recovered, along with digital camera equipment, a video camera and video tapes.
The video tapes were of a young girl victim (d/o/b 1992) on camping trips with THREADGILL. The video shows the girl nude and engaged in sexually explicit conduct. THREADGILL'S vehicle is shown in the video. Testimony would have established that THREADGILL produced these videos and that he had custody and control of the minor victim at the time the videos were made. Digital images found on THREADGILL'S computers show THREADGILL with the same victim while both are nude. The pictures were apparently taken of their reflection in a mirror.
A forensic analysis of THREADGILL'S computer equipment revealed more than 600 images of child pornography. The images include children clearly under the age of twelve engaged in sexually explicit conduct including images of penetration. THREADGILL used his computers to gain access to the Internet and download these images.
Images discovered also showed a prepubescent victim (d/o/b 2005) that THREADGILL had photographed while he was babysitting her for a friend. The child is shown on a quilt that has been identified as being on THREADGILL'S bed and which was taken as evidence during the search. The child is nude in the image.
Images discovered also show another prepubescent victim (d/o/b 2003) in images where she is photographed in the nude along with the older video taped victim. Testimony would establish that these children were all in THREADGILL'S custody and control at the time the images were produced.
Evidence would have shown that THREADGILL used the Internet to receive images of child pornography. It would have also established that his computers, the digital cameras used for still images, and the video camera used to produce the video tapes were all manufactured outside of Montana.
In response to today's sentencing, U.S. Attorney Mercer stated that, "The crimes committed by the defendant in this case were reprehensible. The investigation and prosecution in this case were all made possible by the cooperative efforts of the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. The results in this case underscore how dedicated federal, state, and local law enforcement work to ensure that anyone who sexually exploits children are caught, prosecuted, and punished."
Child pornography is the permanent record of a child being sexually exploited," said Jeffrey Copp, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Denver. "These children are continually victimized every time those images are transmitted, downloaded, shared or viewed. ICE will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to protect young people in the community from those who attempt to sexually exploit them." Copp oversees a four-state area which includes: Montana, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that THREADGILL will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, THREADGILL does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Lahr prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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/.
