Former Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

(Alexandria, VA) – Robert A. Romero, Jr., age 44, of Centreville, Virginia, pled guilty today to receiving child pornography via the Internet. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Joseph Persichini, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office, made the announcement following Romero’s guilty plea before United States District Gerald Bruce Lee. Romero, who will be sentenced on April 4, 2008, faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of twenty years. Upon his release from prison, Romero will remain under Court supervision for a term of at least five years to life. Romero also will be required to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction in which he lives or works.

According to court documents and proceedings, Romero was a 19-year veteran of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. Romero resigned his position as Master Deputy Sheriff on the morning of November 8, 2007. Romero was identified by an FBI agent who was conducting an online search for individuals who were sharing images of child pornography using peer-to-peer software. The FBI seized computer equipment from Romero’s residence that was found to contain over 1,500 images of child pornography. Romero admitted that he had been collecting images of child pornography on his home computer for years, but believed he would not “get in trouble” for it. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. McAndrew, who is on detail from the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice.