United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

ANSONIA MAN GUILTY OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH KONNER, age 28, of 21 Hodge Avenue, Ansonia, Connecticut, waived indictment and pleaded guilty in federal court in to a charge of transporting child pornography in interstate commerce. Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey accepted KONNER's plea of guilty this afternoon in New Haven.

In pleading guilty, KONNER admitted in court that in April 2003, he sent images of child pornography to an individual in New York. The prosecutor explained in court that the individual was an undercover Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Buffalo, New York who "met" KONNER when the defendant operated a "list serve" program through which he distributed child pornographic images. After the undercover agent joined the list serve program, he also engaged in "instant messages" with KONNER during which the trading of child pornography was discussed and during which the defendant sent pictures and video clips of child pornography.

"Thanks to the diligent and persistent efforts of law enforcement acting in an undercover capacity, individuals who traffic in child pornography face serious federal penalties," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Use the internet in any way to exploit children and, more likely than not, you will spend time in prison."

When he is sentenced by Judge Dorsey on August 26, 2004, KONNER faces a maximum period of incarceration of 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kari A. Dooley.

CONTACT:

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