Steven James Priore, a 41-year-old resident of Hedgesville, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The sentencing took place in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Court documents revealed that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip regarding uploaded child pornography linked to an email address associated with Priore. A subsequent search of his home led to the seizure of devices containing images and videos depicting child pornography.
In addition to his prison sentence, Priore has been ordered to pay $65,000 in restitution. He will also be subject to supervised release for life following his incarceration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett on behalf of the government. The investigation was conducted by the West Virginia State Police.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project seeks to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals exploiting children via the Internet while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the case.
