TYLER, Texas – A 45-year-old Longview, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

James Michael Fortin pleaded guilty on Mar. 30, 2010, to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 69 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to information presented in court, on July 28, 2009, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Fortin's home for suspected child pornography. During the search, Fortin's personal computer was seized and a forensic analysis revealed 5 videos and approximately 100 digital images of child pornography. Some of the material depicted children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Longview Police Department's Cyber Crimes unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregg Marchessault and Christopher T. Tortorice.

From U.S. Attorney's Office