Norfolk Man Pleads Guilty To Receipt Of Child Pornography

NORFOLK, Va. – Eric Kevin Downey, 35, of Norfolk, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to charges of receipt of child pornography.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Clark Settles of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Washington office, made the announcement after the plea was presented to United States Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller.

Downey was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 5, 2014. Downey faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Downey was identified when it was discovered that he had been surreptitiously filming a minor while she was drying off in a shower.  Not only had he engaged in filming the minor, he also had been collecting images of minors engaged in sexually explicit activity from the Internet.  Downey admitted he had been collecting these images since approximately 1999 or 2000.  He will be sentenced on March 30, 2015.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Norfolk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:14-cr-145.