Thursday, December 6, 2007

Former USOC fundraiser facing child-porn charges

DANBURY, Conn. -- A former top fundraiser for the U.S. Olympic Committee faces child pornography charges in Connecticut.

John F. Krimsky Jr., 68, pleaded not guilty in state court Monday to four counts, including promoting a minor in an obscene performance, criminal attempt at possession of child pornography and third-degree possession of child pornography.

The arrest resulted from a 2005 tip from the New York Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which prompted an investigation that found Krimsky had traded child pornography images with another person, state police said.

Investigators seized his home computers and found 329 images that appeared to be child pornography. Some were of children who appeared to be between ages 5 to 15 posing or involved in sexual acts, according to a warrant for his arrest.

He was released on $50,000 bond and is due back in court Dec. 20.

Investigators found that an e-mail address registered to Krimsky was used to send images of children engaged in sexual acts to a Wallingford couple's e-mail address. Investigators found similar images on that couple's computer.

According to the warrant, messages also were sent from Krimsky's address to the Wallingford couple, including "Sons and dads chat room was my best source but be careful..." and "I had to dump because someone was chasing me because of some my yngr pics. Guess better safe than sorry, but I do miss the pics smile."

When investigators searched his house in 2005, Krimsky told them he was aware of two AOL accounts allegedly used to send or attempt to send pornographic images but had canceled them six months earlier, according to the warrant. He also said he had never sent any images that he had not gotten from someone else.

Several calls seeking comment were left with Krimsky's attorney. Krimsky's number is unlisted. A message seeking comment also was left with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Krimsky was with the USOC from 1986 to 1999, when he resigned as the top marketing and fundraising official to return to private business.

He helped to raise $2 billion for U.S. Olympic programs and was at the center of efforts to bounce back from the Salt Lake City bid scandal.

In 2000, he was named president of YankeeNets Properties and chief marketing officer of YankeeNets, a merger between the Yankees and New Jersey Nets.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press


Source: ESPN.com

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