Christopher Halligan, Child Pornography, North Dakota 2015

Child pornography has no place in our society, and those who commit these heinous crimes will be held accountable. In this case, the defendant's actions were egregious and disturbing, with over 28,000 files depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

On November 24, 2015, U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson sentenced 47-year-old Christopher Halligan of Emerado, North Dakota, to serve eight years in prison for one count of receipt of materials containing child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography. Halligan was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $400 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund.

The investigation into Halligan's activities began on September 26, 2014, when a North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent downloaded child pornography from his computer via a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant on Halligan's residence in Grand Forks County, where a forensic examination revealed the massive collection of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, was instrumental in bringing Halligan to justice. The program helps federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, and/or computer technology to sexually exploit children.

Halligan was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to two of the victims depicted in the child pornography. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child pornography on its victims and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

In total, Halligan's sentence includes eight years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $400 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund. He must also pay $3,000 in restitution to his victims.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/nd-man-sentenced-receipt-and-possession-child-pornography