A federal jury convicted Thomas Noble, age 71, of New Castle, on October 24, 2019, on charges of possession of child pornography and attempted receipt of more child pornography.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on October 5, 2017, the Delaware State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) executed a search warrant at Noble’s home in New Castle, Delaware. When they arrived, officers found Noble’s personal computer actively downloading child pornography files through a peer-to-peer file-sharing network called BitTorrent. A forensic examination of Noble’s computer found hundreds of files of child pornography.
Noble had previously been convicted in the State of Delaware for possessing child pornography. His term of probation for that conviction had ended less than six months before Delaware State Police executed their search warrant.
David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware stated, “Crimes involving child sexual exploitation continue to victimize innocent children and my office will prosecute any such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Those who possess or download child pornography over the internet are a part of a troubling cycle of violence against children. The Delaware State Police ICAC Taskforce made up of the Delaware State Police, Department of Justice, and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations work together to relentlessly investigate and prosecute these dangerous criminals to ensure child victims, our most vulnerable, are protected,” said Sergeant Richard Bratz, spokesperson for the Delaware State Police
Noble faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison when sentenced on February 26, 2020. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Weiss made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graham L. Robinson and Alexander P. Ibrahim presented the case to the jury on behalf of the United States. The case was investigated by Delaware State Police’s ICAC Unit, with support from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.
