Thursday, June 23, 2011

Operation Constant Vigilance

Trumbull Man Charged with Possessing Child Pornography

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Colonel Danny R. Stebbins of the Connecticut State Police announced that MICHAEL DRZAL, 21, of Beacon Hill Road, Trumbull, was arrested today and charged by federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography.

The criminal complaint alleges that, in May 2011, a Connecticut State Police Trooper assigned to the Computer Crimes Unit and an FBI Special Agent assigned to the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force in New Haven each logged into a publicly available Internet file sharing program and downloaded videos of child pornography from shared directories maintained by DRZAL.

DRZAL was arrested this morning at his residence. Law enforcement agents also seized DRZAL’s computer and related components.

Following DRZAL’s arrest, he appeared United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport and was released on a bond in the amount of $100,000.

If convicted of the charge of possession of child pornography, DRZAL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ray Miller.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut’s “Operation Constant Vigilance,” which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit http://www.cybertipline.com/.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

i went to highschool with this kid and he is a creep. do legitimate justice for a change and give this kid what he deserves.

Anonymous said...

I know Mike from the school. I feel sorry for him, he was picked on alot. I hope he gets help.

Anonymous said...

I have met Mike once. My bf is best friends with him. He really does not seem like the type to do something like this. He just seems really awkward sometimes, but nothing dangerous and nothing that awful. Everyone is awkward in all different kind of situations. It depends on the person.

I personally think he is a good person.