Strawbridge heir guilty of having child porn
Instead, he was one of 10 men from Maine to southern Virginia who drew the attention of the FBI in early 2005. This happened when agents discovered child pornography on the hard-drive of a computer owned by an unidentified Reading man who used the e-mail address kennyinpa@aol.com.
A 63-year-old scion of a prominent Philadelphia department store family pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing child pornography.
Steven L. Strawbridge Sr., who once was a vice president and treasurer for Strawbridge & Clothier, the chain run by his father and grandfather, probably faces four or more years in prison. Strawbridge pleaded guilty to one count of possessing more than 100 images of child pornography.
The images included 44 of children engaged in sex acts and 54 depicting "bestiality and masturbation," authorities said.
As the hearing began in federal court in Philadelphia yesterday, Strawbridge told U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson that he felt anxious but prepared to proceed. "I am guilty of the charge, your honor," Strawbridge said. After he pleaded guilty, Strawbridge kissed his wife and two family members on the cheek and was escorted by a court security officer for processing. He was later released and ordered to reappear Nov. 28 for sentencing.
Strawbridge's defense attorney, Eric Sitarchuk, declined to comment. Strawbridge was not targeted by federal authorities, nor was he caught in a sting.
Instead, he was one of 10 men from Maine to southern Virginia who drew the attention of the FBI in early 2005. This happened when agents discovered child pornography on the hard-drive of a computer owned by an unidentified Reading man who used the e-mail address
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.
Agents reviewing this unidentified man's computer files found e-mail with child pornography attached that had been exchanged with at least 10 e-mail accounts.
One of those accounts - burdz123@aol.com - was traced to Strawbridge's son's address in Rosemont. But when agents visited the son's home and checked credit card records, they soon realized that Strawbridge had used his son's address on the AOL account. The son had committed no crimes.
As agents headed from the son's home to the father's home in Gladwyne, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Zack said, the son called the father to tell him the FBI had just visited. Zack said that Strawbridge then quickly deleted his AOL account and tried to destroy scores of child pornography images from his home computers. Zack said FBI agents were still able to recover dozens of child pornography images. Zack said that Strawbridge also lied to agents when he denied that he had received five e-mails from the Reading man with child pornography attached.
Strawbridge became a director of Strawbridge & Clothier in 1975 and served as secretary, treasurer and vice president through the 1990s. The family sold the business 11 years ago. His brother, Peter, and cousin, Francis - both Strawbridges - played more prominent executive roles at Strawbridge & Clothier. His father, G. Stockton Strawbridge, was longtime chairman and third-generation patriarch.