KC-area child porn investigation leads to DEA-issued computer

KC-area child porn investigation leads to DEA-issued computer

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article22867965.html

An Overland Park detective’s child pornography investigation led to an unexpected place — a local office of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

And evidence found on a laptop computer at the DEA office in Overland Park led to an analyst for a regional drug interdiction program, who pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court.

The case against 34-year-old Matthew J. Barnes, who is scheduled to be sentenced in August, began in March 2012 when the detective assigned to the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force used peer-to-peer file-sharing software to look for online child porn.

According to the plea agreement filed in federal court, the detective’s computer found another computer that shared six images of child pornography and “child erotica.”

The detective learned that the computer’s IP address was assigned to the DEA office.

After the detective and two FBI agents went to the office, DEA officials helped determined that the computer was assigned to Barnes, according to the plea agreement.

According to the document, Barnes was a member of the Missouri National Guard working as an analyst for the Midwest High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, or HIDTA.

Midwest HIDTA coordinates local, state and federal drug enforcement efforts in a six-state area that includes Kansas and Missouri.

After obtaining the password for Barnes’ computer, investigators found that a file-sharing program was operating and displayed images of child pornography. A thumb drive attached to the computer contained child pornography images, according to the plea agreement.

Barnes waived his right to a grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

To reach Tony Rizzo, call 816-234-4435 or send email to trizzo@kcstar.com

One Response

  1. Real nice. Just what you would expect from one of the most corrupt agencies in the world.

Leave a Reply

Discover more from PHARMACIST STEVE

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading