March 28, 2008

Further Information Contact:
Deanna Warren
Phone: (757) 441-6331

Virginia Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Advertising Exchange of Child Pornography and Transporting Child Pornography

(Norfolk, VA) –Jake Allen Ritson, age 32, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, pled guilty late Wednesday afternoon in Norfolk federal court to a two-count criminal information that charged him with advertising exchange of child pornography and transporting child pornography. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and A.J. Turner, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement today. Ritson entered his plea before United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson, who has set sentencing for June 26, 2008. Ritson faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison for the advertising exchange of child pornography charge and a maximum 30 years imprisonment and $500,000 in fines on the two charges.

According to court documents, from in and around April 1999 until on or about April 6, 2005, Ritson operated an internet-based file sharing system from his home to obtain and distribute child pornography. During this time, Ritson posted an advertising banner in an internet relay chat channel seeking the exchange of child pornography and soliciting, in particular, new images. In April 2005, an FBI agent serving in an undercover capacity logged onto the internet relay chat, observed Ritson’s advertisement and obtained fourteen images constituting child pornography from Ritson’s file-sharing system. The undercover agent subsequently linked the advertisement with Ritson’s home address in Virginia Beach.

On October 4, 2005, federal agents searched Ritson’s home and seized numerous computers and other equipment. During the search, Ritson agreed to be interviewed and admitted both orally and in writing that, for the last six years, he had been trading child pornography. Forensic analysis of the items seized from Ritson’s home revealed that Ritson possessed still images and videos of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Melissa E. O’Boyle prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.