United States Attorney Phone: (515) 284-6283 |
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| Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 07, 2007 CONTACT: Stephen P. O'Meara |
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Pennslyvania Man Pleads Guility To Federal Sexual Exploitation Charge DAVENPORT - On March 7, 2007, Jason Edward Stella, age 29, of Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, pled guilty in front of United States Chief Magistrate Judge Thomas J. Shields to sexual exploitation of a minor, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. A sentencing status conference was set for June 15, 2007. At sentencing, Stella will face a potential penalty of a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison, up to a maximum of 30 years in prison. From February 5, 2006, to February 6, 2006, Stella knowingly attempted to persuade a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, specifically by recording video and webcam images and saving images onto a computer compact disc, such visual depiction being produced using materials that have been mailed, shipped, or transported in interstate commerce. In approximately April 2006, the Bettendorf Police Department was notified that Stella, from Pennsylvania, was having inappropriate contact with a 16 year old minor, in Iowa, over the internet. The Bettendorf Police Department requested assistance from the FBI. Subsequent investigation by the Bettendorf Police Department, and the FBI in Iowa and Pennsylvania lead to Stella’s arrest in Pennsylvania on June 1, 2006. At the time of his arrest, Stella expressed his intent was to travel to Iowa to meet with the minor. Stella has remained detained in federal custody since his arrest. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as a part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative. This investigation was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bettendorf Police Department.
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