Cambridge man pled guilty to a one count Indictment charging him with the possession of child pornography.

June 7, 2006

Glenn T. Suddaby, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and William D. Chase, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Division, announced today that MARK V. LAPORTE, age 51, of Cambridge, New York, pled guilty in United States District Court in Albany before the Honorable Lawrence E. Kahn to a one count Indictment charging him with the possession of child pornography. He also admitted a forfeiture allegation.

In connection with his plea, LAPORTE admitted that between June of 2005, and January 20, 2006, he posted a number of images to a Yahoo! group. LAPORTE also admitted that two of the images he posted depict prepubescent males engaged in masturbation and the lascivious exhibition of their genital area. On January 20, 2006, a search warrant was executed at LAPORTE'S residence. A computer, computer disks and other items were seized pursuant to this warrant. Forensic examinations of these items were subsequently conducted and over 700 still images and 24 video images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were recovered. The images recovered depict individuals under the age of 18 engaged in, among other things, vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, masturbation and the lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic area. A number of images depict prepubescent minors engaged in such conduct.

Sentencing was scheduled by Judge Kahn for September 20, 2006, at 11:00 A.M. in U.S. District Court in Albany. LAPORTE faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00. He was detained pending his sentencing.

The case was investigated by the New York State Police, Troop G, Greenwich Barracks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cyber Predator Task Force, and the Washington County District Attorney's Office.

CONTACT: Thomas Spina Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney

tel.(518) 431-0247