Man Sentenced for Obscenity Violations

TEXARKANA – A Red River County man has been sentenced in federal court for obscenity violations. Benjamin David Conrad, 37, of Bogata, pleaded guilty last November to importation or transportation of obscene materials. He was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison during a hearing before United States District Judge David Folsom.

Federal prosecutors say on May 9, 2009, a search was performed at Conrad’s residence. Thirty-five pictures and twenty-six videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were located on Conrad’s computer. At least one of the pictures appears to have been produced abroad, indicating that it was transported in interstate or foreign commerce and imported into the United States. Conrad acknowledged that he did knowingly transport in interstate commerce an obscene writing.