Thomas Conrad Lowery - Guilty Child Porn

ALBANY, GEORGIA - An Americus, Georgia man was found guilty by a federal jury in Albany, Georgia, on charges of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher of the Criminal Division, Department of Justice, and United States Attorney Maxwell Wood, Middle District of Georgia, announced today.

Thomas Conrad Lowery, age 47, was a former child actor. He previously worked as a computer information specialist with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, a consultant to juvenile actors, and coach for youth baseball.

The jury reached their guilty verdict late Thursday evening. The evidence introduced at trial was that Lowery, in 2001, contacted a child actor through the Internet. In his role as consultant to aspiring youth actors, Lowery, from Georgia, arranged to meet with a child in California. The defendant provided the child and a sibling transportation from Florida to California along with lodging in California. In a hotel room, Lowery engaged in criminal sexual activity with the child. Information about a previous incident of molestation of another victim was also introduced. In 2004, a local investigation unearthed images of child pornography on Lowery's work computer at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Following the verdict, Honorable Judge W. Louis Sands, who had presided over the trial, ordered Lowery be detained pending sentencing. Lowery was immediately taken into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Lowery faces up to 15 years imprisonment for the transportation of a minor, no less than five years and up to 15 years imprisonment for the receipt of child pornography, and up to five years imprisonment for the possession of child pornography. He is also subject to a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release. Sentencing will be scheduled by the Court.

The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Assistant United States Attorney Leah McEwen, United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, and Michael Yoon, Trial Attorney, with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the United States Department of Justice prosecuted the case.