Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden announced that Thomas H. Fort, Jr., a Wilmington-area man arrested on child pornography charges earlier this year following an undercover child predator investigation, was sentenced to a nine year prison term today.

“Those who possess and distribute child pornography are a danger to our children,” Biden said. “In this case, not only did the defendant distribute graphic videos of child pornography, but he actively solicited inappropriate and graphic images of teens online.  The sentence handed down today sends a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated.”

Fort, age 55, who pled guilty to two counts of Dealing in Child Pornography in July, was sentenced today by New Castle County Superior Court Judge Jan R. Jurden.  Fort was arrested in January, 2013 following an online undercover investigation by the Child Predator Task Force which was initiated after an undercover detective obtained a video of child pornography online.  The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant Fort’s residence in the 2300 block of Marilyn Drive.  Several computers and digital storage devices were seized during the search containing multiple videos of child pornography.  Fort was arrested on January 17 and has been held since that time on $750,000 cash bail.

The ongoing investigation after Fort’s arrest revealed evidence that he had used a webcam to meet teens in online chatrooms where he solicited unlawful images of a sexual nature from juveniles.

Read the January, 2013 press release announcing Fort’s arrest at:
https://news.delaware.gov/2013/01/18/biden-announces-lengthy-prison-term-for-child-predator-multiple-arrests-by-child-predator-task-force/

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