CARBONDALE MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on March 6, 2008, CHARLES THOMAS COX, age 25, of Carbondale, Illinois was sentenced in the United States District Court in Benton, Illinois. COX was sentenced to 72 months (6 years) imprisonment, fined $500, and placed on 5 years supervised release. COX had previously pleaded guilty to a one count Indictment which charged that on or about March 1, 2007, in Jackson County, COX knowingly possessed child pornography.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Southern Illinois Cyber Crimes Task Force, along with assistance from the Carbondale, IL Police Department, Marion, IL Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and the Southern Illinois University Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, in which the United States Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with federal and state law enforcement authorities, is actively investigating and prosecuting individuals who produce, distribute, or possess child pornography. Anyone with information concerning the use of the Internet for the purposes of possessing, producing, or trafficking in child pornography is encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation or their local police department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George A. Norwood.