Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Ohio
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014
CONTACT: Fred Alverson
Public Affairs Officer
COLUMBUS - Jason C. Grossman, 31, of Westerville, Ohio was sentenced in U.S. District Court to five years in prison for viewing and downloading child pornography over the internet.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Marlon Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Ohio and Michigan, and Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott and members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), announced the sentence handed down yesterday by U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost.
Grossman pleaded guilty in August 2013 to one count of receiving child pornography. At that time, he admitted to using the internet to download and view images of child pornography involving pubescent and prepubescent children. Grossman also admitted that law enforcement came to discover his child pornography activities after he had communicated online with an undercover officer posing as the father of an 11-year-old girl, had discussed engaging in various sex acts with the fictitious minor girl, and had arrived at a location in Columbus, Ohio for a planned meeting with the undercover officer.
Judge Frost also sentenced Grossman to serve five years under court supervision following his time in prison. During that time, he will be required to register as a sex offender anywhere he lives, works or goes to school. Grossman was also ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to one of the minor victims pictured in a series of photos found on Grossman’s computer.
“The government suggests that sex offender treatment would be beneficial to the defendant and recommends that the defendant be placed in a facility that may provide these treatment options," Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Hill told the court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation by ICAC task force officers and HSI Special Agents, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Hill, who prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
