50 yr old Texan busted for child porn

Greenville man convicted of child pornography charges

12:10 PM Tue, Sep 16, 2008

A 50-year-old Greenville man has been convicted of possessing child pornography and faces up to 30 years in federal prison, the U.S. attorney's office said today.

Steve Kelby Samples, 50, was charged with transporting, shipping and possessing child pornography after an undercover FBI agent downloaded child porn images from Mr. Samples' computer in September 2006, said Kathy Colvin, of the U.S. attorney's office in Dallas. In January of last year, federal agents seized a computer containing child pornography from Mr. Samples' Greenville residence, Ms. Colvin said.

Mr. Samples pled guilty to the possession charge last month and was convicted last week on the other charges, Ms. Colvin said.

In addition to prison time, Mr. Samples could face up to a $500,000 fine at his sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 18 before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle.

Authorities said the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national program intended to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.