Jason David Lott, Child Pornography, Utah 2017

Utah Couple Charged with Child Pornography Crimes

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment last week charging Jason David Lott, 32, and his wife, Camila Mae Bergeson, 22, both of Ogden, in connection with a child pornography case investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.

Lott faces charges of distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and possession of a firearm and ammunition following a felony conviction. Bergeson is charged with Lott in a possession of child pornography count. Lott and Bergeson appeared for arraignment on the charges in U.S. District Court Thursday. Both entered not guilty pleas to the charges.

According to a complaint filed in the case, an FBI special agent was conducting an online investigation on the BitTorrent network for offenders sharing child pornography. He directed his investigative focus to a device at a specific IP address, referred to as the “Suspect Device” in the complaint, because it was associated with Torrent files. At least one of the files was identified as being a file of interest in child pornography investigations.

The complaint alleges that on several occasions, the agent successfully completed several downloads made available from the Suspect Device. The downloaded files included sexually explicit images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants, toddlers, and prepubescent children. Further investigation of the IP address led the FBI task force to Lott and Bergeson’s residence in Ogden.

On March 16, 2017, federal agents executed a federal search warrant at the residence. Several devices were seized during the execution of the warrant, including a laptop computer. During a preliminary search of the laptop computer, agents located the Bit-Torrent program Vuze, as well as evidence indicative of an individual using a peer-to-peer program to obtain files of child pornography.

Lott, a registered sex offender, admitted to having the Bit-Torrent program on his computer and having knowledge that one could obtain images of child pornography. He also admitted to using a program to wipe his computer once a week. Bergeson admitted to looking at videos and images of child pornography on the computer with her husband. She admitted they have looked at child pornography for the last six months approximately every other week.

Lott faces a potential mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years with a maximum 40-year sentence if convicted of distribution of child pornography. Because of his criminal history, Lott faces a potential 10-year mandatory minimum for the possession of child pornography count. Possessing a firearm following a felony conviction carries a potential 10-year sentence. Bergeson faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the possession of child pornography count.

A four-day jury trial is set for May 22, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Jill N. Parrish. Lott is in custody. Bergeson was released from custody subject to standard and special conditions of supervised release, including a requirement that she get a full-time job.

Indictments are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged in an indictment are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.

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