COLUMBUS, Ohio
Charles Fairbanks, 50, of Columbus, was sentenced in United States District Court here today to 75 months in prison for using the Internet to regularly distribute digital images of pre-adolescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cincinnati Field Division (FBI) announced the plea entered today before United States District Judge George C. Smith.
Fairbanks pleaded guilty on April 29, 2009 to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Fairbanks was also ordered to forfeit all of his personal computer equipment. He will serve five years of supervised release after he completes his time in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives or works after his release from prison.
Fairbanks entered an online chat room in September, 2007 and began chatting with “Curious Mom”, an FBI agent posing as the mother of a 14-year old girl. Fairbanks wrote that he had “tons” of young pictures and proceeded to send via the Internet connection, 32 digital images including thirteen images of child pornography.
On the basis of this information, the FBI and a member of the Cyber Crimes Task Force interviewed Fairbanks at his home. During this interview, Fairbanks admitted that he collected child pornography, and that he chatted online with individuals interested in child pornography several times a month. Fairbanks also admitted that he sent a user child pornography images about every other month.
Investigators found more than 3,000 images of child pornography on his computer and related storage media.
“We want the community to be aware that sexual predators use the Internet to reach and endanger children,” Stewart said. “Law enforcement and the community must fight this crime.”
Stewart commended the FBI agents who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hunter, who is prosecuting the case.
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