MAN SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS IN PRISON IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- Lewis Michaels Ingalls, 40, of Rochester, New York, who was convicted of receiving child pornography on Dec. 17, 2007, was sentenced yesterday to 293 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, who handled the case, stated the defendant had been convicted of receiving child pornography. On July 30, 2007, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized various computer related media belonging to Ingalls and discovered more than 600 child pornography images and videos. Ingalls admitted that he downloaded the child pornography from the internet. Some of the child pornography images depicted prepubescent minors or minors under twelve years old, and portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice 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 < http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/> .

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