SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY MAN ADMITS TO RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a Susquehanna man pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik to receiving child pornography during June 2007.

Carlson stated that George Troup, age 50, admitted to downloading to his computer sexually explicit images of minors during that time period.

Troup’s prosecution stemmed from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). FBI Special Agents from both the Cleveland Division and the Scranton office participated in the investigation.
Carlson noted that Troup faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and could be placed on supervised release for life after serving his prison sentence.

Carlson noted that the investigation and prosecution of Troup are part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created 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.

Carlson noted that the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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