FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
JOHN ERIC CARPEGNA PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on May 27, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, JOHN ERIC CARPEGNA, a 40-year-old resident of Missoula, pled guilty to possession of child pornography. Sentencing is set for October 10, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Cyber Crimes Center initiated an investigation into a criminal organization operating numerous commercial child pornography websites on the Internet. The investigation, known as Operation Flicker, has identified thousands of people in the United States who have subscribed to various child pornography websites operated by this organization.
In late May of 2007, ICE agents in Helena received information that CARPEGNA, a Missoula resident, was among the subscribers identified during Operation Flicker.
On July 12, 2007, agents searched CARPEGNA'S residence in Missoula and seized a notebook computer which CARPEGNA admitted he had purchased and that no one else used.
A forensic analysis of the computer found approximately 235 images and 8 videos of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children or children under the age of 12, and sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. The analysis showed that the images had been possessed by CARPEGNA from approximately November of 2006 through July 12, 2007, when the computer was seized.
CARPEGNA has both a prior hands-on sexual abuse conviction involving a small child as well as a prior child pornography conviction.
CARPEGNA faces possible penalties of a mandatory 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
