Raleigh Man Sentenced for Child Pornography

A Raleigh man received a harsh sentence for his role in a child pornography case. Paul Fantz, 32, was sentenced to 100 months imprisonment followed by 15 years supervised release for receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2), during his arraignment.

The investigation into Fantz’s activities began after he was seen attempting to videotape a child in the men’s restroom at the North Carolina State Fair in October, 2013. He was stopped and questioned by Wake County Sheriff deputies, who then obtained a search warrant for his iPhone and laptop. Forensic examination revealed at least 100 videos of boys urinating, as well as another 100 images of child pornography on the laptop.

Fantz plead guilty to receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2), on May 12, 2014. He was charged with this violation on March 5, 2014, in a Criminal Information filed by the government.

Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes prosecuted the case for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Wake County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This case was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a national program aimed at ensuring that criminals exploiting children are effectively prosecuted by making full use of all available law enforcement resources at every level. For more information about this important national project, Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced the sentence in federal court today. Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt handed down the sentence. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of child exploitation and the importance of law enforcement working together to bring these perpetrators to justice.

Fantz’s actions not only harmed the child he attempted to videotape, but also perpetuated a culture of exploitation and abuse. Sentences like this one demonstrate that our justice system takes these crimes seriously and will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

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