Child Pornographer Sentenced to Thirty-Five Years, Reports U.S. Attorney

13 March 2006

A Billerica man was sentenced today to thirty-five years in federal custody for advertising child pornography on the Internet, possession of child pornography and related offenses.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Kenneth W. Kaiser, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England, Alice S. Fisher, Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division, Department of Justice and Matthew J. Etre, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced today that GIRARD LAFORTUNE, age 48 of 80 Allen Road, Billerica, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States Judge Patti B. Saris on federal charges of advertising visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in interstate commerce; transportation of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in interstate commerce; receipt of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in interstate commerce; and possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Evidence established that LAFORTUNE traded child pornography on the Internet and possessed a large quantity of child pornography on his computer and on CDs and DVDs that the FBI found hidden in the ceiling of his home.

LAFORTUNE was previously convicted of raping his own children. He also has a prior federal conviction for advertising child pornography. The government asked Judge Saris to impose a life sentence.

United States Attorney Sullivan stated: "Nothing is more important than protecting children from predators. Today's sentence sends the message that we will continue to pro actively pursue and prosecute these kinds of heinous offenses. However, there is no punishment fitting enough for a man who repeatedly exploited children, including his own. Mr. LAFORTUNE'S actions have proven that he is deserving of this lengthy prison sentence."

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Billerica Police Department and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George W. Vien of Sullivan's Public Corruption Unit and Sara Gottovi of the U.S. Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Source: prnewswire

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