Minnesota - Brian Gene Montgomery (51) Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Pornography

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 51-year-old Oakdale man pleaded guilty to distributing an image containing child pornography. Brian Gene Montgomery pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. Montgomery, who was indicted on August 17, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis. In his plea agreement, Montgomery admitted that on February 23, 2011, he distributed an image via his computer that featured a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Montgomery admitted distributing similar material.

For his crime, Montgomery faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum penalty of five years. Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Minnesota Cyber Crimes Task Force, which is sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura M. Provinzino and Kimberly A. Svendsen.

Presently, the Justice Department is funding a study concerning the correlation between involvement in child pornography and the hands-on sexual abuse of children. A 2008 study (The Butner Study) published in the Journal of Family Violence found that up to 80 percent of federal inmates incarcerated for possession, receipt, or distribution of child pornography also admitted to hands-on sexual abuse of children, ranging from touching to rape.

The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children, particularly via the Internet. In fiscal year 2010, 2,235 defendants pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges, 2,222 of whom were sentenced to prison. In fiscal year 2009, 2,083 defendants were sentenced to prison on child pornography charges. For more information about these efforts, please visit the Department’s Project Safe Childhood website, at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mn/press/oct025.pdf