Kim Joseph Habit, Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Child Pornography, Virginia 2021

NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing firearms as a prohibited person and possession of child pornography.

Kim Joseph Habit, 48, as a person who had been committed to a mental institution, violated federal law by subsequently possessing an AM-15 rifle and other firearms.

According to court documents, during the course of the investigation, the FBI determined that Habit had been purchasing significant quantities of chemicals and other laboratory equipment that could be used to create a destructive device.

Agents also obtained evidence that a computer user at the Habit residence was participating in a peer-to-peer file-sharing network through which images of child pornography were downloaded.

On December 14, 2021, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Habit’s residence and found numerous firearms, a box containing components that could be used in combination to create an improvised explosive device, and electronic devices containing images of child pornography.

Habit is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Stoker and Megan Montoya are prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/chesapeake-man-pleads-guilty-unlawful-possession-firearms-and-child-pornography