GREGORY HILTON NEUFELD SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in May 3, on Billings, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, GREGORY HILTON NEUFELD, a 32-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. NEUFELD was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 262 months
Special Assessment: $200
Restitution: (to be determined)
Supervised Release: 7 years
NEUFELD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.

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.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that NEUFELD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, NEUFELD does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

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.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

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) 247-4669