A California man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute child pornography.
Richard Pitts, 27, of Cathedral City, California, was sentenced on to seven years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute child pornography.
Pitts was also required to forfeit his computer and hard drive. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen sentenced Pitts following a change of plea hearing, in which Pitts pleaded guilty to the offense.
According to an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson, the government stated that if the case had proceeded to trial, the government would have shown that Pitts became a member of an invitation-only online bulletin board referred to as Dark Moon. Pitts distributed images of child pornography while on Dark Moon in 2012.
The Dark Moon bulletin board allowed members to advertise and exchange images of child pornography. The bulletin board was created on or about .
Eight defendants have been indicted who were involved in the Dark Moon Bulletin Board. This case was initiated under the Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, Pitts will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is released from prison.
Related Federal Cases
- Taurean Jerome Weber, Child Pornography, Montana 2023 · Colorado
- Joshua Daniel Kaupang, Child Pornography, Montana 2024 · Wyoming
- Robert Christopher Baenziger, Child Pornography, Montana 2021 · Hawaii
- Jayson Gayo, Child Pornography, Montana 2022 · Wyoming
- Randall Allen Flatlip, Possessing Child Pornography, Montana 2022 · Montana
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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