A 32-year-old Hilo man was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison yesterday for possessing computer diskettes containing child pornography. Hilo man gets 3 years
for having child pornBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comU.S. District Judge David Ezra noted Jed Abregana had a "terrible history of recidivism" and the harm to children from child pornography offenses was "profound and measurable."
Because Abregana was on probation for a prior state conviction for sexual abuse of a minor, his probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to 10 years in state prison with the possibility of parole.
U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. said the case originated from an undercover Internet operation conducted on the mainland. Postal inspectors and investigators from the state attorney general's office of Pennsylvania posted an advertisement for videotapes, which contained child pornography.
Abregana's twin brother, Jay, responded to the advertisement and sent the undercover agent diskettes containing child pornography. Agents recovered pictures of Jay Abregana and what appeared to be an underage male engaged in sexual activity, Kubo said.
Jay Abregana expected to receive videotapes containing child pornography in return for the diskettes, Kubo said.
On Aug. 28, 2001, authorities obtained a search warrant for Jay Abregana's home and found child pornography that belonged to both Abreganas.
Jay Abregana pleaded guilty to mailing child pornography to an undercover agent in Pennsylvania and was sentenced to 44 months in prison by District Judge Helen Gillmor.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service's child exploitation section in San Francisco, Hawaii County Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Customs Service were involved in the investigation.