PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney
Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Linda Paolini, 44, of Philadelphia,
PA, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones
Alejandro to two counts of manufacturing and attempted manufacturing of child
pornography, and one count of online enticement of a minor.
The charges arise out of a telephone tip received by the FBI
about Paolini, who was pretending to be an underage girl for the purpose of
luring underage boys online. The defendant communicated through Instagram with
one particular boy, soliciting him for videos of himself masturbating. She and
her victim exchanged over 50,000 Instagram messages over the course of a few
months, including explicit and sexually charged chats.
“Paolini’s conduct is reprehensible, and her days of
exploiting and victimizing children online are over,” said First Assistant U.S.
Attorney Williams. “Child sexual exploitation is appallingly pervasive, and
exacerbated by the easy availability of digital media and communications. This
case serves as a message to all adults who care for children: please monitor
what they do online. And as always, we stand ready with our federal partners to
identify and prosecute these criminals.”
Paolini faces life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of
at least 15 years, a mandatory term of at least 5 years but up to a lifetime of
supervised release, a $750,000 fine, and $15,300 in special assessments.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted
by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Rinaldi.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment