An Aurora man, one of four Illinois men charged in 2006 with trading child pornography through an exclusive Internet chat room, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison.
Alan Jungels, 45, pleaded guilty to receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography in a deal with prosecutors in January. He is one of about 30 people in the U.S., Australia, Britain and Canada who were charged in connection with the "Kiddypics & Kiddyvids" chat room.
Jungels appeared in court with his elderly parents, who submitted written letters to the judge stating that they depend on their son for the "upkeep of their home."
But U.S. District Judge James Zagel said he wasn't convinced that the parents relied on him extraordinarily. The judge also said that though the defendant did not participate in making the child pornography, he holds responsibility because he created a consumer market for it.
Zagel, who said he believed Jungels was unwilling to be rehabilitated, ordered him to be immediately taken into custody. Jungels hugged his parents and told them "I'll be fine" before being taken away. The family declined to comment after the hearing.
Prosecutor Mark Schneider said Jungels was "belligerent and resistant" during psychological treatment sessions. According to court papers, an Aurora counselor terminated the sessions in January because Jungels was not cooperative and noted that the defendant "displayed a 'severe hatred of children'" and believed that children as young as 11 years old are able to consent to sexual activity.
At the hearing, Jungels told the judge that he was sorry and denied allegations that he was belligerent and resistant during his meetings with a counselor.
In the end, the judge agreed with prosecutors and said Jungels needed to be incarcerated for several years.
In March 2006, then-U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales announced in Chicago that federal authorities had shut down the chat room and that 27 people were charged in the U.S., Australia, Britain and Canada, including three from the Chicago area. Jungels was charged in an indictment a few months later.
Prosecutors said Jungels used the screen name "Big-al-43895" when trading the pornography in chat rooms with titles such as "incest" and "daddy-daughter."
Schneider said Jungels had about 7,000 pictures, including photos of girls ranging in age from 3 to 10 years, some with their hands tied, their legs spread, or engaging in sex with adults.
As for the other Illinois men charged, one of them, Gregory J. Sweezer of Aurora, pleaded guilty in May 2007 to trading child pornography and is scheduled to be sentenced March 31.
Another, Brian Annoreno of Bartlett, is accused of molesting an infant girl for a live video "streamed" to another member of the chat room. His trial was slated for late March, but delayed because he required eye surgery, prosecutors said. His next court date is April 4.
The fourth, David Holst of North Aurora, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in a deal earlier this month. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 16.
source : http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-03-26/news/0803250581_1_pornography-chat-room-daddy-daughter
Alan Jungels, 45, pleaded guilty to receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography in a deal with prosecutors in January. He is one of about 30 people in the U.S., Australia, Britain and Canada who were charged in connection with the "Kiddypics & Kiddyvids" chat room.
Jungels appeared in court with his elderly parents, who submitted written letters to the judge stating that they depend on their son for the "upkeep of their home."
But U.S. District Judge James Zagel said he wasn't convinced that the parents relied on him extraordinarily. The judge also said that though the defendant did not participate in making the child pornography, he holds responsibility because he created a consumer market for it.
Zagel, who said he believed Jungels was unwilling to be rehabilitated, ordered him to be immediately taken into custody. Jungels hugged his parents and told them "I'll be fine" before being taken away. The family declined to comment after the hearing.
Prosecutor Mark Schneider said Jungels was "belligerent and resistant" during psychological treatment sessions. According to court papers, an Aurora counselor terminated the sessions in January because Jungels was not cooperative and noted that the defendant "displayed a 'severe hatred of children'" and believed that children as young as 11 years old are able to consent to sexual activity.
At the hearing, Jungels told the judge that he was sorry and denied allegations that he was belligerent and resistant during his meetings with a counselor.
In the end, the judge agreed with prosecutors and said Jungels needed to be incarcerated for several years.
In March 2006, then-U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales announced in Chicago that federal authorities had shut down the chat room and that 27 people were charged in the U.S., Australia, Britain and Canada, including three from the Chicago area. Jungels was charged in an indictment a few months later.
Prosecutors said Jungels used the screen name "Big-al-43895" when trading the pornography in chat rooms with titles such as "incest" and "daddy-daughter."
Schneider said Jungels had about 7,000 pictures, including photos of girls ranging in age from 3 to 10 years, some with their hands tied, their legs spread, or engaging in sex with adults.
As for the other Illinois men charged, one of them, Gregory J. Sweezer of Aurora, pleaded guilty in May 2007 to trading child pornography and is scheduled to be sentenced March 31.
Another, Brian Annoreno of Bartlett, is accused of molesting an infant girl for a live video "streamed" to another member of the chat room. His trial was slated for late March, but delayed because he required eye surgery, prosecutors said. His next court date is April 4.
The fourth, David Holst of North Aurora, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in a deal earlier this month. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 16.
source : http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-03-26/news/0803250581_1_pornography-chat-room-daddy-daughter
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