Defendant Took Photographs Of Children In Public Settings Which He Used To Create Images Of Child Pornography
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, Jay Lockett Sears, a resident of East Moriches, New York, pled guilty before United States District Judge Denis R. Hurley to possessing child pornography.
The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and Edward Webber, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (“SCPD").
According to court pleadings, Sears created hundreds of images of child pornography by taking photographs of children in public settings, such as beach club parties and other events, and then placing the heads of the children onto images of adult bodies engaged in sexual activity. Some of the images included pictures of Sears’ face pasted onto the bodies of other males so as to appear as if he were having sexual relations with children.
Sears came to the attention of the SCPD Computer Crimes Squad on Jan. 11, 2013, after hundreds of child pornography images were found in a dumpster outside of the defendant’s East Moriches townhouse apartment building. The images had been discarded as Sears prepared to move out of his apartment.
“Sears victimized children by using their innocent faces to create child pornography. He then dragged them further into his aberrant fantasy world by adding his own images to these pictures. Such exploitation of children is one of our most important law enforcement priorities and will not be tolerated," stated United States Attorney Lynch.
At sentencing on Jan. 17, 2014, Sears faces up to 10 years in prison.
Parents who believe that their children may have been the victims of persons involved in child pornography should contact the Suffolk County Computer Crimes Squad at (631) 852-6279, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (631) 501-8600.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Allen Bode.
The Defendant
Name: JAY LOCKETT SEARS
Age: 74
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
