March 30, 2007

Bristol man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

NEW HAVEN, CONN. - Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Patrick J. Wegner, age 30, formerly of 33 Davis Drive, Bristol, Conn., pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, Wegner possessed numerous images of child pornography that he obtained through e-mail communications in September 2005.

Judge Burns has scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2007, at which time Wegner faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Wegner has been detained since his arrest on August 14, 2006.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James K. Filan, Jr is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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