Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Possession

An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Thaddus Caves, 40, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell.  Sentencing is set for May 8.

“This prosecution is another example of law enforcement working together to protect the most vulnerable among us--our children,” said U.S. Attorney Shores.  “Predators will be pursued, investigated, prosecuted, and most importantly, held accountable by my office.”

According to admissions made in connection with the plea agreement, in October 2016, Caves knowingly possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  The depictions included at least one prepubescent minor under the age of 12-years-old.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  The matter is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney William M. Grady of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff A. Gallant of the Northern District of Oklahoma.

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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.