For Release: March 31, 2011
For media inquiries only, contact: Brian J. Gottstein
Email: bgottstein@oag.state.va.us (best
contact method)
Phone: 804-786-5874
Attorney General Cuccinelli announces conviction of
Chesterfield man on 22 child pornography offenses
CHESTERFIELD, VA (March 31, 2011) – Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli applauded the conviction of a Chesterfield man on 22 counts of child pornography possession today. Chesterfield Circuit Court Judge Harold W. Burgess, Jr. found Joseph E. Ludwig, age 51, guilty during a plea hearing today.
Cuccinelli said, “This case illustrates how law enforcement organizations are effectively coordinating their resources to effectively combat child pornography. This case drew from the expertise of multiple law enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations.
“I want to thank the Virginia State Police, the Richmond Police Department, members of my staff at the Office of the Attorney General, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their cooperation to make sure this man was brought to justice.”
The evidence presented at today’s plea hearing showed that Ludwig offered to distribute images and videos of child pornography to a special agent of the Virginia State Police. Shortly thereafter, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children presented evidence to the Richmond Police Department that a man, later identified as Ludwig, had uploaded images of child erotica to teen social networking sites. Ludwig acknowledged he created these social networking accounts to help him acquire child pornography.
The Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant at Ludwig’s residence in Chesterfield County on July 16, 2010, and seized his computer. A subsequent forensic examination revealed that Ludwig had saved, and organized by age of the victim, images and videos of child pornography on his computer.
Today’s plea agreement requires that Ludwig undergo a sex offender evaluation before returning to court for sentencing. The plea agreement calls for a term of active prison time of between 13 and 27 years. Upon completion of his sentence, Ludwig will be placed on probation and must register with the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. At the time of the offense, Ludwig was on supervised probation and, as a result of the plea, he may face additional penalties in other Virginia jurisdictions.
This case was investigated by the Northern and Southern Virginia ICAC Task Forces. Detective Kevin Hiner of the Richmond Police Department and Keith Vincent of the Chesterfield Police Department investigated for the Southern Virginia ICAC. Special Agent Ron Jedrey investigated on behalf of the Northern Virginia ICAC and the Virginia State Police. Assistant Attorney General Chip Muir of the attorney general’s office prosecuted the case on behalf of the commonwealth. Cuccinelli also thanked the Chesterfield County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
A copy of this news release may be found on the website of the Attorney General of Virginia at http://www.vaag.com/Media and News Releases/News_Releases/index.html.
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