ATHENS, Ga. – A Watkinsville, Georgia, man who has been the subject of a lengthy investigation for downloading and distributing child pornography, was found guilty by a federal jury for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Eric Paul Krumm, 46, was found guilty of two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on April 27. Krumm faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment on the distribution charges and a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment on the possession charge to be followed by five years to life of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine per count. In addition, Krumm will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole. Sentencing will occur later this year.
“Children are manipulated, molested and sexually assaulted in the production of child sexual assault material. Every person who downloads, shares and pays to view these horrific images and videos is funding the cycle of child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will pursue federal prosecution against people caught downloading and distributing child sexual assault material.”
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims. No child should be subject to online exploitation. As we work with our law enforcement agency partners and prosecutors, we are ensuring that predators like this defendant are held accountable,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
“The exploitation of children by way of pornographic images is abhorrent and will not be tolerated in our community. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate these vile crimes. ACCPD appreciates the GBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for investigating this crime, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia for bringing forth a successful prosecution,” ACCPD Interim Chief of Police Jerry Saulters.
In 2016, Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) began an investigation into downloads of suspected child pornography that returned to Krumm. Following that initial finding, ACCPD obtained 204 images and two videos of child pornography linking back to Krumm’s IP
address. The child pornography depicted prepubescent girls and included sexual assault and molestation. A search warrant was executed by the GBI at Krumm’s residence on Feb. 15, 2017, and eleven electronics were seized, including laptops and hard drives. 56 images and one movie file found on Krumm’s electronics depicting child pornography and child sexual assault material were submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for comparison to the Child Recognition and Identification System (CRIS).
Krumm, a systems administrator for a multinational corporation, downloaded and distributed child pornography via a peer-to-peer file sharing network. GBI investigators conducted an extensive forensic examination of Krumm’s electronics which led to the discovery of the evidence of his distribution and possession of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by Athens-Clarke County Police Department and GBI, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Criminal Chief Michael Solis is prosecuting the case.