Florence Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Gary Cook Dixon, age 46, of Florence, pled guilty today in federal court in Florence to distribution of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)91). United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that FBI agents in Maryland, acting in an undercover capacity, signed on to a peer file-sharing program on the Internet and downloaded files being offered by Dixon containing child pornography. At the time Dixon, was sharing thousands of files containing child pornography. A search was conducted at Dixon’s residence and his computer was seized, which was later determined to contain child pornography.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Dixon can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment for five to 20 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office handled the case.

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 United States Attorney’s 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, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.