Release: Branford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison Term for Possessing Child Pornography

This item is a press release from the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Michael Holm, 32, of Oak Street, Branford, was sentenced on Aug. 26 by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to three months of imprisonment, followed by three months of home confinement and five years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography.        

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 29, 2008, agents assigned to the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force conducted a court-authorized search at Holm’s residence and seized a computer.

Subsequent forensic analysis of the computer revealed between 150 and 300 images of child pornography. On December 9, 2010 Holm pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Following his release from prison, Holm will be required to register as a sex offender. As special conditions of his five-year-term of supervised release, the United States Probation Office is authorized to monitor Holm’s computer use and conduct random searches of his residence, automobile and workplace.  Also, Holm must not have any unsupervised contact with children who are under the age of 18, other than his own children, without the express permission of the U.S. Probation Office and his mental health treatment provider.        

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ray Miller and Special Assistant United States Attorney Neeraj Patel.        

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which is housed at the main FBI office in New Haven, investigates crimes occurring over the Internet, including on-line crimes against children, and provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. 

For more information about the Task Force, or to report child exploitation crimes, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.        

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.        

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