FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 24, 2008
MATT FROST 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 Billings, on April 24, 2008, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MATT FROST, a 25-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. FROST was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 120 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Forfeiture: computer equipment
- Supervised Release: life
FROST was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to receipt 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 initiated an undercover operation targeting peer-to-peer file sharing networks offering child pornography.
In May of 2005, a computer utilizing the IP address assigned to FROST at his residence in Billings had images of child pornography available to other peer-to-peer users.
On February 22, 2006, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at FROST'S residence in Billings. FROST was interviewed and he admitted that he had used file sharing programs, his computer, and the Internet to receive and possess child pornography images. FROST stated that he had been doing so since the age of 16 and felt that he had a problem with child pornography. FROST also admitted that he had received child pornography images via e-mail from several other people.
Seized during the search were various items of computer equipment. When examined, numerous images of child pornography were found, including images of known victims. Some of the children depicted in the images were clearly less than age 12 or prepubescent, and/or were engaged in sadism or masochism or other depictions of violence. Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that FROST will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, FROST 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 Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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/.
