News Releases

Connecticut man admits possessing child pornography

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - David B. Fein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that John Confortini, 38, of New Milford, Conn., waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to one count of possession of child pornography after an investigation led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to court documents and statements made in court, a joint law enforcement investigation revealed that in 2008, Confortini used a credit card to purchase a 30-day subscription to access a child pornography web site located on a web server in Florida. On July 9, 2009, during an interview with ICE special agents in New Haven, Conn., Confortini admitted that he subscribed to the Florida-based website, and several other websites, to view and download child pornography. Subsequent forensic analysis of Confortini's laptop computer revealed between 150 and 300 images of child pornography, including images of children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

"Every time an image of child pornography is viewed, an innocent child is exploited," said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Boston. Foucart oversees ICE HSI throughout New England. "Today's guilty plea should serve as a warning to other would-be child predators. Identifying and investigating those who victimize children is one of the most important responsibilities we have, and that is why ICE HSI will continue working aggressively with our federal, state and local partners on these types of cases."

"The U.S. Attorney's Office is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who exploit children through the possession of child pornography," U.S. Attorney Fein stated.

Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for February 4, 2011, at which time Confortini faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case has been investigated by ICE HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.