A former Lenexa, Kansas, man pleaded guilty in federal court after child pornography was found on the cell phone he carried into a secure area at the U.S. Department of Energy national security campus in Kansas City, Mo.
Shaun Walker, 41, currently a resident of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of attempting to distribute child pornography over the Internet.
Walker was employed by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technology, which is contracted by the Nuclear National Security Administration, at the time of the offense.
According to court documents, Walker entered an inner secure area of the U.S. Department of Energy National Security Campus in Kansas City, Mo., with his personal cell phone on Nov. 29, 2021. Walker contacted Kansas City National Security Campus Security to self-report the violation.
Walker gave his cell phone to security personnel, who reviewed the cell phone to determine if any classified material was present on the phone. During the review, a security officer observed numerous images and videos depicting child pornography. Walker’s phone was seized to conduct a forensic examination.
Investigators found an encrypted folder on Walker’s cell phone that contained 21 images and a video of a 5-year-old girl who is known to Walker. Investigators found dozens of additional images and videos of child pornography on Walker’s cell phone. Investigators also found thousands of WhatsApp chats between Walker and females he contacted through a livestreaming pornography website. Walker requested photos and videos of nude underage females conducting sexual acts. As a result of his WhatsApp chats, Walker received and distributed images and videos of child pornography.
Under federal statutes, Walker is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, and up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.
