Edward Galpin, Child Pornography Production, Connecticut 2021

A Stratford man has admitted to producing and distributing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

Edward Galpin, 39, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to two counts of production of child pornography and two counts of distribution of child pornography.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count of production of child pornography, and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of distribution of child pornography.

Galpin was an administrator of a private Kik messaging app chat group that provided a forum for members to discuss their sexual interest in young children and exchange images and videos of child sexual abuse, according to court documents and statements made in court.

As a group administrator, Galpin distributed child pornography, requested it from other group members, and removed from the group certain members who did not share child pornography. He possessed and shared a significant amount of child pornography, including images and videos of prepubescent minors and content portraying sadistic and masochistic conduct and the sexual abuse of toddlers.

The investigation also revealed that Galpin used Instagram to identify young girls for the purpose of soliciting or producing child pornography. In one instance, Galpin arranged to meet with a 17-year-old girl, picked her up at her house, and engaged in sexually explicit conduct with her. Galpin recorded the sexual encounter and then shared images and videos on Kik.

Galpin also used spy cameras to record videos of women and girls while they were undressing. Galpin then distributed the videos, including video of a minor girl, via Kik.

Galpin was originally charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. The case was then transferred to the District of Connecticut.

Galpin pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count, and two counts of distribution of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for June 2, 2021.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Haven and Washington, D.C., and the Metropolitan Police (D.C.) Department's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Sarala V. Nagala in the District of Connecticut, and Assistant U.S. Attorney April Russo in the District of Columbia.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/stratford-man-admits-producing-and-distributing-child-pornography