MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Buffalo, N.Y.–WILLIAM SWIAT, 22, of Cheektowaga, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny, to a felony charge of Possession of Child Pornography, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today. Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who handled the case, stated that the defendant admitted to possessing child pornography on his computer.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. 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.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Department of was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of District Judge William M. Skretny.