PHILADELPHIA - United States Attorney Pat Meehan today announced the filing of a criminal complaint charging Lawrence Scott Ward with receipt of child pornography at his office at the University of Pennsylvania.

According to the affidavit, two computers and several CDs and DVDs were seized at Ward's University of Pennsylvania office at 3730 Walnut Street on August 31. On one CD, investigators discovered more than 80 still images, many of which showed a person believed to be Ward and a boy between the ages of 14 and 15 engaged in explicit sexual activity.

Also seized was a FedEx box Ward had sent to himself which included six DVDs. They contain video showing Ward and the same boy engaged in explicit sexual activity.

"According to the complaint, this defendant exploited and manipulated a child in unimaginable ways," said Meehan. "When someone participates in or receives child pornography, they are inflicting injury on a child that will last a lifetime. It's our responsibility to pursue these predators, even if they leave the country, and hold them accountable."

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy. In conducting this investigation, the government has had the full cooperation of the University of Pennsylvania. The investigation is ongoing.

-- ICE --