Sentencing Memorandum and Statement of Reasons

In 2004, as the result of an extensive international investigation, federal authorities suspected the defendant, Bernard E. Raby, of being a consumer of child pornography.  On December 15, 2004, a search warrant was executed on Mr. Raby’s residence in Foster, West Virginia.  Mr. Raby met the authorities at his front door and agreed to be interviewed.  After waiving his constitutional rights, Mr. Raby admitted to possessing, on various electronic-storage devices, approximately 2000 sexually explicit images of underage boys.¹  Some of these images depicted prepubescent boys.  Mr. Raby also admitted to having engaged in sexual activity with juvenile boys on multiple occasions.  The authorities executed the search warrant and seized Mr. Raby’s computer and other related evidence.