MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

BUFFALO, N.Y.--Israel Rodriguez, 43, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to a felony charge of Possession of Child Pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter of the Western District of New York, announced today. Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250, 000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who handled the case, stated an undercover FBI agent downloaded images the defendant had in his file sharing folder.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett, Special Agent In Charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2009, at 12:30 p.m. EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of Chief U.S. Richard J. Arcara District Judge.