Baltimore, Maryland – In a shocking case of child exploitation, a North East man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
Estel Henry Cook, Jr., 56, was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, an internet search engine sent two Cyber Tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCEMC) after a user uploaded child pornography in April 2019. An investigation by Maryland State Police and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) revealed that the IP addresses and subscriber information associated with the upload resided at Cook’s North East residence.
On August 27, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cook’s residence and seized his cell phone. A forensic analysis revealed that Cook possessed approximately 976 files of graphic child exploitive material, including 348 videos and 628 images.
The images depicted the sexual abuse of minors, including prepubescent minors and an infant. Cook’s guilty plea admitted to the possession of this child pornography.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI, the Maryland State Police, and the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.
Cook was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
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- Michael Gene Reed, Child Pornography Possession, Maryland 2024 · District of Columbia
- Tyler Dean Fowler, Child Pornography Possession, Maryland 2021 · Maryland
- Tyler Dean Fowler, Child Pornography Possession, Maryland 2021 · Maryland
- Todd Oravecz, Child Pornography Possession, Kirtland OH, 2023 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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