FOR RELEASE:   August 26, 2008
SUBJECT:           RODRIGUEZ, Anthony Miguel; a/k/a RODRIGUEZ, Tony

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that ANTHONY MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a, Tony Rodriguez, age 23, of Ada, Oklahoma, pled guilty to Possession of One or More Visual Depictions of a Minor Child Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252 (a)(4)(B).  RODRIGUEZ was indicted on July 16, 2008.

“Charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling. “On January 28, 2008,  FBI agents served a search warrant at the residence of RODRIGUEZ.  While at the residence, RODRIGUEZ was interviewed and admitted to downloading child pornography on his computer.  He also admitted using a file sharing software called Limewire to obtain and trade child pornography.  The computer and other digital media were seized.  A forensic examination of the computer and digital media revealed 121 video flies and 635 images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.”

“The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  Sentencing will be scheduled following its completion.  Over the objection of the defense, RODRIGUEZ was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service, pending imposition of sentence.”

“The statutory range of punishment is up to ten (10) years in prison and/or up to $250,000.00 in fines and forfeiture of the computer equipment used in the crime,” noted U.S. Attorney Sperling. “Preliminary guidelines review project RODRIGUEZ could face 97 to 120 months imprisonment.”

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Wilson represented the United States.”