MAN SENTENCED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- RICHARD HARROLD, 38, of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, who was convicted of possession of child pornography on January 19, 2007, was sentenced to a 78-month term of imprisonment followed by a 5-year period of supervised release by United States District Judge William M. Skretny, United States Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Charles B. Wydysh, who handled the case, stated that the defendant had been convicted of possession of child pornography because he provided child pornography over the internet to an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. The defendant, between September 8, 2004 and April 22, 2006, engaged in discussions with the undercover FBI agent over an internet AOL chat room on six occasions and provided child pornography to the agent.

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 .

The conviction was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Laurie Bennett, Special Agent in Charge.