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Former HHS Cyber Security Director Convicted For Child Porn

Tristyn Bloom Contributor
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Former acting director of cyber security for the Department of Health and Human Services Timothy DeFoggi was convicted for a myriad of gruesome child pornography charges Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced.

DeFoggi, who had top security clearance in his capacity as cyber security director, first joined the child pornography website PedoBook in March 2012. The Omaha World-Herald reported that he was arrested in April of last year, when law enforcement officials serving a search warrant found him downloading child pornography in his home.

In addition to viewing and soliciting child pornography, reportedly asking another member of the site whether he’d share pictures of his son, he suggested meeting a fellow pedophile in person to violently rape and murder children together.

The trial lasted just four days, with jury deliberation taking only two hours. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2014.

PedoBook’s founder, Aaron McGrath, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year. So far seven users of the site, including DeFoggi, have been convicted.

DOJ Attorney Keith Becker explained that the site, prior to being shut down by the FBI in December 2012, had specific forums for discussion of babies, prepubescent boys, girls and teens. DeFoggi was active on forums discussing the rape of young children.

The minimum sentence for engaging in a child pornography enterprise is 20 years in prison.

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