Operation Constant Vigilance - JEFFREY ANDREW RICHARDS, 46, Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEFFREY ANDREW RICHARDS, 46, of Burlington, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. Judge Thompson also ordered RICHARDS to pay a fine in the amount of $5000.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2004 to October 2006, RICHARDS used his work-issued computer and compact discs to amass a collection of child pornography. RICHARDS possessed more than 600 images and videos in his child pornography collection, including many images of children under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

On March 3, 2011, RICHARDS waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anastasia E. King.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut’s “Operation Constant Vigilance,” which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force investigates crimes occurring over the Internet, including computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment and on-line crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

http://www.justice.gov/usao/ct/Press2011/20111018-1.html