Eric M. Swancutt, 39, formerly of Belleville, IL, was sentenced on January 27, 2017, to 97 months in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Prepubescent Child Pornography. The sentences for each count will run concurrently, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, also to be served concurrently. Swancutt was additionally ordered to pay a $300 fine and a $300 special assessment.
The sentencing concludes a federal investigation that began when a Compaq Presario laptop was seized from a Belleville residence Swancutt previously shared with others on October 23, 2015. Forensic analysis of the device uncovered numerous image and video files depicting child pornography, many involving prepubescent children. Investigators determined that on or about July 18 and August 19, 2015, Swancutt received these illicit files via the Internet.
On June 21, 2016, Swancutt admitted during a voluntary interview that he had accessed and viewed child pornography on the seized laptop. He confessed to downloading the material while living at the Belleville residence, directly implicating himself in the distribution and possession of exploitative content involving minors.
Swancutt had been in federal custody since his arraignment on June 24, 2016, more than six months before sentencing. His admission and the digital evidence compiled by law enforcement sealed the case, leaving little room for dispute over his involvement in the possession and receipt of illegal material.
The investigation was conducted by the Belleville Police Department and the FBI’s Springfield Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott prosecuted the case, which was brought under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the rising epidemic of child sexual exploitation.
Project Safe Childhood coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders who exploit children, while also working to rescue victims. For more information, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Swancutt’s conviction underscores the federal government’s relentless pursuit of those who traffic in the abuse of the most vulnerable.
Related Federal Cases
- Illinois Man Sought Child Porn, Found a Federal Jury · Illinois
- Arlington Heights Man Gets 5 Years for Child Porn Crimes · Illinois
- Collinsville Man Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Access · Illinois
- Zachary R. Wheeler Sentenced in Child Porn Case · Illinois
- John C. Vastis Sentenced to 13 Years for Child Porn Crimes · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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