United States v. William J. Decosta

BOUDIN, Circuit Judge.

As part of a postal service “sting,” postal inspectors placed an advertisement concerning child pornography in a local publication. William DeCosta was foolish enough to respond. In correspondence with an undercover postal inspector, DeCosta expressed an interest in receiving such material. In February 1989, DeCosta mailed to the undercover agent four photographs depicting young girls in sexually explicit poses. Thereafter he was indicted.

In December 1992, DeCosta pleaded guilty to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) which relates to the mailing of child pornography.…