Summary: Former Acting Director of Cyber Security at the Department of Health and Human Services convicted of child porn enterprise. Evidence produced at court shows he also communicated with others in trying to fulfill fantasies of violently raping and murdering children.
Timothy DeFoggi, the former acting director of cyber security at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was convicted by a federal jury in the District of Nebraska over child pornography, the DOJ reported. The jury reached its verdict following a four-day trial before U.S. Chief District Judge Laurie Smith Camp. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2014.
Charges against DeFoggi included that of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to advertise and distribute child pornography, and accessing a computer with intent to view child pornography in connection with his membership in a child pornography website.
DeFoggi, 56, formerly of Germantown, Maryland, is the sixth individual to be convicted as part of an ongoing investigation targeting three child pornography websites. The three websites were run by a single administrator, who has since been convicted in the District of Nebraska of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise in connection with his administration of the sites.
According to evidence presented at trial, DeFoggi registered as a website member on March 2, 2012, and maintained his membership and activity until Dec. 8, 2012, when the website was taken down by the FBI. Through the website, DeFoggi accessed child pornography, solicited child pornography from other members, and exchanged private messages with other members where he expressed an interest in the violent rape and murder of children. DeFoggi even suggested meeting one member in person to fulfill their mutual fantasies to violently rape and murder children.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg of the District of Nebraska and Special Agent in Charge Thomas R. Metz of the FBI’s Omaha Division made the announcement.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
