News Releases
SOUTH CAROLINA MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR SEEKING SEX WITH CHILD USING THE INTERNET
March 02, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Kenneth A. Smith, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announce that LEONARD HERBERT SHANNON, 35, of Jefferson, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William C. O' Kelley on charges of possession of child pornography. According to Nahmias:
SHANNON was sentenced to 3 years, 4 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release to follow his release from confinement. In ordering the 20 years of supervised release, Judge O’Kelley noted that SHANNON has two children who are both under the age of two and expressed his belief that SHANNON should be supervised until the children become adults. SHANNON was also ordered to undergo a federal sex treatment program after his release from prison and he was ordered to register as a sexual offender. He was also ordered to pay a $4,000 fine.
According to the evidence presented in court, beginning on or about October 15, 2003, SHANNON, while using the chat room ID “stev_thomas,” "stev_thomas@yahoo.com" sent images of child pornography to a minor in an attempt to persuade the minor to contact him, via telephone, and engage in sexually explicit communications. The minor, concerned for the safety of the child depicted in the images, saved the images and turned them over to the Lee County Sheriff's Office in Albany, Georgia. The information was then turned over to Special Agents of the ICE Atlanta Field Office who identified “stev_thomas”stev_thomas@yahoo.com as SHANNON.
In November 2003, ICE Atlanta Agents, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, and Dawson County Sheriff's Office, executed federal search warrants upon two of SHANNON'S residences located in Jefferson and Dawsonville, Georgia. Three computers and numerous media storage devices were seized pursuant to the warrants. Forensic analysis of the computers and storage devices revealed approximately 90 images of child pornography.
On November 8, 2004, SHANNON was arrested in Athens, Georgia by ICE Atlanta and U.S. Secret Service Agents after being indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said today, “Unlike cases where a federal agent poses as a child to catch a sexual predator, in this case a 16-year-old being was pursued and sent pornography over the internet. The victim was smart and courageous enough to tell her family what was happening, and they took the information to law enforcement. With the effort of local and federal law enforcement agencies, we were able to take a dangerous individual out of cyberspace, and into federal prison.”
“Our children are our most valued assets,” said Kenneth A. Smith, who leads ICE investigative operations in Atlanta. “Any attempts to exploit their vulnerability will not be tolerated. ICE is committed to aggressively pursuing people who commit these crimes against innocent children who are being victimized.”
Assistant United States Attorney Bernita B. Malloy prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Chief, Criminal Division, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.