NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 16, 2006

GREGORY HILTON NEUFELD PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on November 15, 2006, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, GREGORY HILTON NEUFELD, a 32-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. Sentencing is set for February 15, 2007. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In February of 2005, an investigation was undertaken into allegations that NEUFELD had sexually abused and photographed a young teen-aged girl at various locations in Billings and elsewhere in Montana.

The investigation revealed that NEUFELD had begun a sexual relationship with the girl in 2003 when she was thirteen, and had continued until NEUFELD left the area to join the military in 2005. The investigation also revealed that NEUFELD had videotaped and photographed their sexual activity throughout this time period.

NEUFELD produced the visual depictions using materials that had been mailed, shipped, or transported across state lines or in foreign commerce. NEUFELD also received and possessed numerous images of child pornography via the Internet using the girl's computer during that same time.

A search of that computer revealed numerous images of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children and children engaged in sadistic or masochistic sexual activity or other forms of violence.

NEUFELD faces possible penalties of 15-50 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Billings Police Department.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana

P.O. Box 1478
Billings, MT 59103

CONTACT

Kurt Alme
First Assistant U.S. Attorney
(406) 246-4669