Tye Leif Petersen, Child Pornography Distribution, Alaska 2014

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A Petersburg man has admitted to distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, a federal crime that carries severe penalties.

Tye Leif Petersen, 46, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, Petersen’s email account contained six videos of child pornography, which led investigators to his residence in Petersburg.

Further investigation revealed that Petersen received and possessed 22 videos and 291 photos of child pornography from an individual in the Eastern District of Tennessee. A search warrant was obtained for Petersen’s home, where FBI agents recovered 11 CD-ROMs, five thumb drives, three detached hard drives, and one Apple Desktop computer, all of which contained images of child pornography.

Petersen identified an additional email account that showed activity of Petersen’s distribution of child pornography. The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years on the distribution and receipt charges, and each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Judge Timothy M. Burgess, who took Petersen’s plea, scheduled sentencing for November 11, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler commends the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Petersen.

Petersen’s guilty plea marks a significant victory in the fight against child pornography. The federal government takes these crimes very seriously and will continue to pursue those who engage in this reprehensible behavior.

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