February 21, 2008

CONTACT:

Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force: FORMER MUSIC DIRECTOR OF GREENWICH CHURCH SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT F. TATE, age 65, formerly of Greenwich, Connecticut, was sentenced today to 66 months’ imprisonment.  Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas in Bridgeport also ordered TATE to pay a $50,000 fine and to serve the remainder of his life under the Court’s supervision as a registered sex offender.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on October 16, 2006, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at TATE’s apartment on the property of Christ Church in Greenwich, where TATE had served as Music Director until his resignation on October 9, 2006.  At that time, law enforcement seized a laptop computer and other computer storage devices from TATE’s residence.  Analysis of the various computer media revealed the existence of approximately 484 images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including minors engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct and depictions of violence.  TATE had downloaded the images from the internet.

At the sentencing hearing today, the Court described TATE’s conduct as unspeakable, horrendous, and terrible.  TATE apologized to the Court for victimizing children both in terms of viewing images as well as touching and engaging in sexual conduct.

The Court ordered that TATE be under its supervision for the remainder of his life upon  release from prison.  The conditions of supervision imposed include that TATE register as a sex offender, that he provide a DNA sample, that his use of a computer be under strict monitoring, and that he not be in the presence of a person under the age of 18 without the approval of the United States Probation Office.  TATE remained in federal custody and is awaiting designation to a Bureau of Prisons facility, which the Court is recommending have a sex offender treatment program.

“Through the Project Safe Childhood Initiative, the federal government is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who use the internet to receive child pornography, as they create the market for the continued exploitation of children,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated.  O’Connor stressed that the possession and viewing of child pornography is an strong indication that a person may be physically offending against children and that anyone with information about someone possessing child pornography should immediately contact local, state, or federal law enforcement so that the matter can be fully investigated.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force was formed in February 2003 to investigate crimes occurring over the internet. These crimes include computer intrusion, internet fraud, copyright violations, internet threats and harassment and on-line crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov