Montrose County Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

David W. Tunget, age 47, of Montrose County, Colorado, was sentenced on March 11, 2011 by U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer to serve 188 months (over 15 years) for possession of child pornography, United States Attorney John Walsh and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Rankin announced. Following his term of imprisonment, Judge Brimmer ordered Tunget to serve an additional 20 years on supervised release. The defendant also was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. Tunget was remanded immediately following the sentencing hearing. As noted during the sentencing hearing, Tunget was previously convicted of sex offenses against children in California.

On September 1, 2010, Tunget was charged by Information. He pled guilty on November 3, 2010 before Judge Brimmer. Tunget was sentenced on March 11, 2011.

According to court documents, including the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on March 20, 2008, an FBI agent, working in an undercover capacity, used a peer-to-peer file sharing type program to download child pornography. The investigation revealed that the child pornography images were being stored on Tunget’s computer, available for anyone using peer-to-peer software. During the investigation, the undercover agent downloaded nine images, all shared by Tunget using the peer-to-peer software. Seven of the nine images involved pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Further investigation of internet provider records showed that Tunget was the residential customer for the computer containing the child pornography in Grand Junction, Colorado.

On August 27, 2008, the FBI obtained and subsequently served a search warrant on the residence of David Tunget. Tunget’s computer was seized and forensically examined. The examination revealed that, stored on his computers were over 1,100 files containing images of possible child pornography.

“As noted during the sentencing hearing, the defendant in this case was previously convicted of sexual offenses against children when he resided in California,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “The tough sentence handed down in this case reflects the severe and appropriate consequences for prior sex offenders who are caught in possession of child pornography.”

“The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate cases which involve the sexual exploitation of innocent children,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Rankin.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Tunget was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Davies, Michelle Heldmyer, and Tonya Andrews.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.