United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Childhood: EAST HARTFORD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WAYNE SPODNICK, age 44, of 190 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to one count of possession of child pornography.  According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, SPODNICK downloaded numerous images and videos of child pornography from the Internet.

This case stems from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation that identified websites, email addresses and credit card processing companies utilized by people who operated illegal child pornography web sites and granted others access to those web sites for a fee.  In approximately December 2005, agents began intercepting communications occurring with an email account of one such illegal web site.  Based on these court-authorized interceptions, SPODNICK was identified as a person who had subscribed to, and was granted access to, the child pornography web site.

In October 2006, a search warrant was obtained and executed at SPODNICK’s former residence on Cypress Trail in Farmington, Connecticut.  A forensic examination of SPODNICK’s computer and compact disks taken from his home revealed videos and images of child pornography.

Judge Kravitz has scheduled sentencing for October 31, 2007, at which time SPODNICK faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James K. Filan, Jr.

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.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov