Cleveland Man Guilty of Child pornography Charges

CLEVELAND, April 1, 2010 - What began as a simple pawning of a laptop computer turned into a federal investigation. Earlier today in an Eastern District Federal Court Room JORDAN SCOTT WHEELER pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography today before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Wheeler was immediately remanded into custody to await sentencing.

Wheeler pawned his personal laptop to a Cleveland pawnshop in August of 2008. After non-payment on the loan, a pawnshop employee was preparing the laptop computer for resale and discovered images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The pawnshop contacted the Cleveland Police Department in January of 2009, who examined the laptop computer and determined there were at least 611 images of child pornography. Cleveland Police Department Detective Captain Scott Felts contacted the U.S. Secret Service who assisted in the investigation.

After Wheelers laptop was analyzed for digital evidence, a search warrant was obtained for Wheeler's residence resulting in the discovery of a second laptop computer that contained over 1,000 images of child pornography, some of which depicted children under the age of 12 involved in sexually explicit conduct.

Wheeler faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
Chief Mark Bradshaw commended the investigation by members of the Cleveland Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice who is prosecuting the case.

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