Douglasville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offense

RICHARD W. RODGERS, 42, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced December 20 by United States District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., to federal prison on a charge of receiving child pornography.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Thanks to the work of an undercover FBI agent, this offender has been prosecuted for receiving more than 1,000 images and many videos of child pornography and making hundreds of those images available for others via the Internet. Today's sentence is a reminder to all those who consider this illegal conduct: child pornography offenders face serious consequences for their crimes."

RODGERS was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He pled guilty to the charge on August 13, 2010.

According to United States Attorney Yates and information presented in court: A Federal Bureau of Investigation agent working in an undercover capacity in Richmond, Virginia, logged onto an Internet file sharing network on April 4, 2008, and searched for offenders who had images of child pornography available for sharing with other Internet users. The agent's search quickly returned a list of more than 300 child pornography images that were available for sharing from a computer which was traced to RODGERS. When FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at RODGERS' residence in Douglasville, Georgia, they found more than 1,300 still images and 49 videos of child pornography on his home laptop computer. During interviews with federal agents, RODGERS admitted that he had searched for and received the child pornography from Internet sources.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Innocent Images Task Force.

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Marietta Man Sentenced to Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

JUSTIN CROY, 25, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced June 28 by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr. to serve six years in federal prison on a charge of receiving child pornography.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “This defendant possessed a large collection of videos depicting the violent rape, molestation, and exploitation of the most vulnerable among us—our children. This office will continue to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute those who choose to use the Internet to proliferate images of the violent sexual assault of children.”

CROY was sentenced to six years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. CROY was convicted of these charges by a federal jury on March 19, 2010, after a four-day trial.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: In January 2009, a detective with the Smyrna Police Department was conducting an online, undercover investigation regarding the sexual exploitation of children. During the investigation, the detective received information that someone residing at the defendant's residence was involved with child pornography. In March 2010, officers with the Cobb County Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit executed a search warrant at CROY's residence and recovered computer equipment that contained over 100 videos of prepubescent children, including infants and toddlers, being sexually assaulted.

The images recovered from CROY's computer equipment were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Victim Identification Program, where many of the children depicted in the images were determined to be known victims of child exploitation. The defendant’s child pornography collection included a video titled “The Pre Teen Toy Story” that provided step-by-step instructions on how to sexually assault infants and toddlers, including tips on how to avoid detection. CROY confessed to authorities that he had downloaded and repeatedly viewed the child pornography.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Crimes Against Children Unit of the Cobb County Police Department and the Smyrna Police Department.

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Augusta Man Charged with Interstate Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and with Producing Child Pornography

ROBERT FRANCIS KWASNIAK, 38, of Augusta, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of interstate traveling to engage in illicit sex with a minor; producing child pornography; and possessing child pornography.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said, “This defendant has been charged with producing child pornography and traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sex with a minor. Our children deserve protection from those who abuse and prey on them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children.”

The indictment of KWASNIAK arises out of a joint investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The indictment alleges KWASNIAK traveled to North Carolina to engage in sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl.

Tarver emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tarver commented that this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.

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Former Grady Hospital Emergency Room Doctor Convicted of Child Exploitation Crimes

A federal jury today returned guilty verdicts against DR. ADAM WAYNE LEBOWITZ, 50, of Decatur, Georgia, on one count of producing child pornography and one count of attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. The jury found him not guilty on another count of producing child pornography.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the verdicts, “If not for the diligence of a mother and her son, and the quick work of county and federal law enforcement, this doctor could still be preying upon young victims. As a doctor, this defendant was responsible for protecting the health and safety of children, but instead endangered the physical and emotional safety of children by exploiting them. He will no longer be able to do that behind the bars of a federal prison.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, “Dr. Lebowitz had a bright career wherein he had committed himself to helping others. Dr. Lebowitz forfeited that career by instead engaging in acts that exploited minor children and further acts that, without law enforcement intervention, would have exploited and victimized a minor child. This is a very unfortunate case but one that should serve as an example to parents that predators come from all walks of life and that parents must remain vigilant in order to play a role in proactively protecting their children.”

Coweta County Sheriff Michael Yeager said, “The Coweta County Sheriff's Office appreciates the work of the U.S. Attorney's Office and all agencies involved in bringing this case forward. Hopefully a very long period of incarceration will follow so no one else will encounter this individual.”

Clayton County Police Chief Timothy Robinson said, “I am proud to have our agency working closely with the FBI and the Safe Child Task Force. Because of the hard work, dedication and collaboration of these agencies, another child predator is off of our streets. It is just another example of how communities benefit from Multi-Jurisdictional Task Forces.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, and the evidence presented in court: LEBOWITZ came to the attention of law enforcement officers at the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office on October 26, 2006, afer a victim, a 15-year-old boy, received a series of e-mails on the MySpace website, and sexually graphic instant messages on the AOL website, from LEBOWITZ. The victim’s mother contacted the sheriff’s office and reported these online messages sent by LEBOWITZ to her son. The sheriff's office then began an undercover investigation of LEBOWITZ that culminated in his arrest in the driveway of the victim’s home on November 2, 2006. Evidence at trial showed LEBOWITZ had planned to transport the victim to LEBOWITZ’s home in Decatur, Georgia, and had multiple condoms and sexual lubricants inside his vehicle at the time of his arrest.

Following the arrest, the sheriff’s office obtained and executed a warrant to search LEBOWITZ’s home. During the search, investigators seized three computers, two of which contained video recordings of LEBOWITZ engaged in sex acts with two young boys. Investigators discovered that these same video recordings were located on a VHS tape found inside his home during the search. Members of the FBI’s “Safe Child Task Force” identified the victims in the video recordings and contacted them. Both victims revealed that LEBOWITZ had recorded himself engaged in graphic sex acts with these victims when both were minors. An examination of LEBOWITZ’s computers, performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), revealed that LEBOWITZ had sent images from his recordings of the two young victims over the Internet. He was indicted on the charges on June 12, 2007, and a superseding indictment was filed on February 9, 2010.

A sentencing date for LEBOWITZ has not yet been set before United States District Judge Richard W. Story. LEBOWITZ faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment as to Count Two of producing pornography, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum sentence of life in prison on Count Three, the attempt to coerce a minor.

This case was investigated by members of the FBI’s “Safe Child Task Force,” the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, the Clayton County Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with valuable assistance from U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Computer Forensics Division. Assistance in this case has also been provided by the Coweta County District Attorney’s Office.

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Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Receiving Child Pornography

Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that Roger Alan Gambrel, convicted on June 5, 2009, of the federal offense of Receipt of Child Pornography, was sentenced December 2 by United States District Judge J. Randal Hall, to 240 months imprisonment, followed by supervised release for the remainder of his life. Gambrel will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison.

Tarver stated that the evidence presented at the defendant’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Gambrel routinely engaged in sexually suggestive online “chats” with others about the child pornography images being traded during those communications. When his computer and other computer media were seized from Gambrel, he was found in possession of over 2,000 child pornography images.

The case was the result of a joint investigation by Special Agent Brian Ozden of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Agent Charles Kicklighter of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, based upon information they received from FBI agents in California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Greenwood represented the Government.

Tarver commented that this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.

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Adairsville Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

RICKY LEE MCDANIEL, 53, of Adairsville, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy to serve five years in federal prison on charges of possessing child pornography.

“Child pornography is a permanent record of sexual child abuse, and its circulation on the Internet haunts the victims for the rest of their lives,” said Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “The defendant in this case had over 1,200 images and four video clips of child abuse stored on dozens of diskettes, and he will now receive the punishment that federal law provides for such deplorable conduct.”

Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston said of the case: “I am pleased with the results of the arrest and prosecution of Ricky Lee McDaniel in connection with the child pornography charges brought against him by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A defendant such as this is a menace not only to the children in our community, but to children elsewhere in our country. I recognize and applaud all of the intensive investigative work put into this case by the FBI, and I also commend the detective from my own staff who very capably assisted the FBI with this matter. I look forward to enhanced cooperation between the Sheriff's Office and federal authorities in detecting, arresting, and prosecuting persons involved in such vile activities.”

MCDANIEL was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

MCDANIEL was convicted of these charges on July 21, 2009 after a two-day trial.

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating MCDANIEL, after an investigation in Oklahoma linked MCDANIEL’s Internet service to the receipt of child pornography. FBI agents assisted Gordon County Sheriff’s Department investigators in executing a search warrant of MCDANIEL’s home in Calhoun. Agents found, among other things, over 1,200 images and four video clips of child pornography being sexually abused on approximately 60 floppy diskettes. Several of the children shown being raped and abused in the images and videos were previously identified victims of child abuse cases from across the country.

This case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and investigators from the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant United States Attorney William G. Traynor prosecuted the case.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Gainesville Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Offenses

CHARLES R. VAN BRACKLE, 49, of Rabun Gap, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William C. O’Kelley on charges of receiving child pornography.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “The large collection of child pornography that this defendant possessed directly promoted an industry that exploits, molests, and degrades children. This sentence underscores the harsh consequences for people who possess images of children being sexually exploited.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said, “The protection of our children from individuals who would exploit them is one of the many vital missions of the FBI. The extensive collection of child pornography by the defendant is indicative of an individual who has likely been involved in this exploitive behavior for quite some time. We are appreciative of the sentence handed down today and feel that, as a result, the community is a safer place.”

VAN BRACKLE was sentenced to 9 years, 2 months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. He was also fined $2000. There is no parole in the federal system. VAN BRACKLE pleaded guilty to the charge on July 17, 2009.

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: VAN BRACKLE was identified as a possible child pornography consumer after his name and identifying information were linked to child pornography investigations in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. In January 2009, FBI and GBI agents searched VAN BRACKLE’s home, recovering a computer whose hard drive contained over a thousand images and videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images recovered from the computer were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Child Victim Identification Program, where many of the children depicted in the images were determined to be known victims of child exploitation.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, was launched. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

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Child Predator Arrested in Georgia

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, announces, on behalf of the Conasauga Safe Streets Task Force, the following arrest at Walker County, Georgia:

On Thursday, June 4, 2009, Robert Lee Ervin, age 39, of Sweetwater, Tennessee, was arrested by FBI Agents and Task Force Officers on state charges of child pornography and criminal attempt-child exploitation related to his attempt to have sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. Ervin had been engaged in a series of Internet chats with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Ervin traveled to Walker County, Georgia from Tennessee to meet with this “minor child” and was subsequently arrested.

Ervin is currently being detained at the Walker County, Georgia Detention Facility.

The Conasauga Safe Streets Task Force consists of federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and officers from the Whitfield Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department, and Calhoun Police Department.

The public is reminded that all persons are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Producer of Child Pornography Sentenced to Over 10 Years

TERRILL MARION CRANE, 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced May 29 by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to serve over 10 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “This defendant sexually exploited many young girls in Atlanta over the course of almost a decade. His crimes are unforgivable, as is the fact that when a citizen provided strong evidence of the crimes to the Atlanta Police in 2003, the investigation was squelched and the defendant's police-sergeant wife was tipped off and destroyed evidence. We commend the Atlanta Police officers who later advised the FBI about the case, and the FBI for promptly bringing to justice this serial sexual exploiter of children. He is off the streets and where he belongs - in federal prison for many years.”

CRANE was sentenced to 10 years, 1 month in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. CRANE pleaded guilty to charge of producing child pornography on January 22, 2009.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: Beginning in 1999, CRANE approached numerous young girls in the Atlanta area and attempted to solicit them for sexual favors in exchange for cash. In most cases, CRANE took photos or directed photos to be taken of the sexual activity. In 2003, CRANE's wife, who was then a Sergeant with the Atlanta Police Department, got a call from an unidentified person at APD Headquarters advising that APD had photographs of her husband in the sexual activity. CRANE's wife said she found and burned some of the photographs. Even after that, CRANE’s sexual activity with young females, continued. In October 2007, APD officers advised the FBI of photographic evidence involving 11 girls, most of them middle school age, which had been provided to APD by a film development store in 2000.

After the FBI agents began investigating the case, and with the assistance of the APD, on November 20, 2007, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant for CRANE's Atlanta residence on Beecher Road. Agents found undeveloped film, including some from disposable cameras, later shown to be CRANE engaged in sexual activity with the girls, including two additional girls, and nude photos of some of the girls alone. Some of the girls in the photos found at CRANE's residence have still not been identified. CRANE claimed to agents that some of the girls in the photographs were 20 years old, but several of the identified victims were minors at the time of the sexual activity and photographs and others appear to be minors. Some of the photos depicting young girls seized from CRANE's residence are identical to some of the photographs initially provided to APD in 2000.

Anyone with victim information is asked to call the FBI at 404-679-9000.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI with assistance from the Atlanta Police Department.

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Smyrna, Ga., Man Indicted for Tricking Children Into Sending Nude Pictures Over the Internet

/PRNewswire/ -- Michael Macaluso III, 37, formerly of Smyrna, Ga., and now of Marietta, Ga., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of producing, distributing and receiving child pornography, and using a computer to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia David E. Nahmias announced today.

Macaluso was arraigned early this afternoon and a bond hearing is now scheduled for April 15, 2009, at 3 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman.

According to U.S. Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In approximately June 2006, Macaluso allegedly posed online as a 15-year-old male and befriended a 15-year old male in Connecticut. Macaluso allegedly convinced the victim to send him nude pictures and videos of the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. When the victim told Macaluso he did not want to send any more pictures, Macaluso allegedly threatened to expose the victim's sexual orientation and post the explicit pictures in a widespread manner on the internet.

Relating to the second victim, in approximately March 2008, Macaluso allegedly posed as a 16-year-old female on the Web site "MySpace.com" and befriended a 14-year-old male in New Jersey. The two communicated online for a period of time, and again Macaluso allegedly convinced the victim to send him nude pictures and videos of the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Eventually, the victim expressed a desire to stop engaging in this activity, and Macaluso then allegedly threatened to post the victim's sexually explicit pictures in a widespread manner on the internet. During a search of Macaluso's computers, agents allegedly found a large number of child pornography images and videos.

The indictment charges Macaluso with two counts of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and two counts of using a computer to entice a child to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The production charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years. The distribution and receipt charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years, and the enticement charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000.

An indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Nahmias said, "We warn our children that they need to know who is really on the other end of their computer, but this case drives that warning home in an unfortunately terrible way. This adult defendant was allegedly posing online as a teenager in an effort to entice other teenagers into sending him pictures and videos of themselves engaged in sexual activity, and then threatening them with widespread exposure when the victims wanted to stop. We urge any other victims to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We also urge parents to use this case to educate their children about the dangers of internet contact with unknown persons and the loss of control involved in transmitting sexually explicit images of oneself on the internet."

GBI Director Vernon Keenan said, "Sex crimes against children have the highest priority at the GBI. We are working closely with the U. S. Attorney's Office as the federal penalties for such crimes are extremely harsh. Identifying and bringing to justice those who use the Internet to prey on children for sexual purposes is the mission of the 98 federal, state, and local agencies that participate in Georgia's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The ICAC Task Force program was created by the U.S. Department of Justice to help state and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children. Our experience has shown that there may be other victims of this defendant. I would urge any parent who feels their child may have come in contact with Macaluso to contact the GBI's High Technology Unit."

Anyone who may have more information about the case or has had similar contact with the defendant, whose birthdate is April 7, 1972, is encouraged to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's (GBI) High Technology Unit at (404) 270-8870.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the GBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Steinberg is prosecuting the case.

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Savannah Longshoreman Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

Edmund A. Booth, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that Bernard McCray, 33, an employee at the Georgia Ports in Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of Child Pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A.

Booth noted that during the guilty plea hearing in U.S. District Court before U.S. DistrictJudge B. Avant Edenfield, the evidence showed McCray had taken sexually explicit photographs of a 14-year-old girl in his pickup truck using a cell phone camera. Booth stated that the offense of Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. Forfeiture of McCray’s pickup truck will also be addressed at the sentencing which has not yet been scheduled.

This case was the result of a joint investigation by the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and Special Agent Joshua Hayes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Kramer represented the Government.

Booth commented that this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which isa nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

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Terrill Marion Crane Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

Any potential victims or anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 404-679-9000


TERRILL MARION CRANE, 49, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to one count of producing child pornography.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today’s plea, “This case goes back a number of years, which makes the list of victims longer and the facts of the case even more disturbing. This defendant sexually exploited numerous young girls and that unforgivable criminal conduct went unchecked for years even after being brought to the attention of the Atlanta Police Department. The FBI continues to try to identify all victims involved with this defendant, and we will work to make sure there are no more.”

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and other information presented in court: Beginning in 1999, CRANE approached young girls in the Atlanta area and attempted to solicit them for sexual favors in exchange for cash. In most cases, CRANE took photos or directed photos to be taken of the sexual encounters. In 2003, CRANE’s wife, who was then a Sergeant with the Atlanta Police Department, got a call from an unidentified person at APD Headquarters advising that APD had photographs of her husband in the sexual encounters. CRANE’s wife said she found and destroyed some of the photographs by burning them. Even after that time, the sexual activity with the young females, many of them middle school age, continued. In October 2007, APD officers advised the FBI of photographic evidence involving 11 girls, most of them middle school age, which had been provided to APD by a film development store in 2000.

After FBI investigation with the assistance of APD, on November 20, 2007, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant for CRANE’s Atlanta residence on Beecher Road. Agents found undeveloped film, including some from disposable cameras, later shown to be CRANE engaged in sexual activity with the girls, including two additional girls, and nude photos of some of the girls alone. Some of the girls in the photos found at CRANE’s residence have still not been identified. CRANE claimed to agents that some of the girls in the photographs were 20 years old, but several of the identified victims were minors at the time of the sexual activity and photographs and others appear to be minors. Some of the photos depicting young girls seized from CRANE’s residence are identical to some of the photographs initially provided to APD in 2000.

Sentencing for CRANE is set for March 27, 2009, at 11a.m. before Judge Thrash. CRANE faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the charge. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Safe Child Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Brown is prosecuting the case.

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Security Guard Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornograpghy and Impersonating FBI Agent

DOUGLAS YUTAKA RHOADES, 43, of Jonesboro, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., to serve more than 5 years in prison on charges of possessing child pornography and falsely impersonating a federal agent.

"This defendant claimed to be an FBI agent who investigated child pornography cases, but in reality he was a security guard who collected child pornography," said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. "Through his lie of being an FBI agent, he tried to trick others into entrusting the care of their young children to him. Today's sentence is a just outcome for a depraved man who tried to trade on the trust that the FBI has built with the American people. This sentence also underscores the harsh consequences for people who possess images of children being sexually exploited and thereby support the creation of child pornography."

RHOADES was sentenced to 5 years, 3 months in prison to be followed by supervised release for the rest of his life. RHOADES pleaded guilty to the charges on November 3, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: Beginning in January 2008, Clayton County Police were investigating allegations of child molestation involving RHOADES. Witnesses informed the police that RHOADES stated that he was a Special Agent of the FBI assigned to the cyber crime unit. According to one witness, RHOADES claimed to work on child pornography investigations. Clayton County Police then contacted the FBI, who checked their records and determined that RHOADES was not and had never been an FBI employee. When FBI agents arrested RHOADES pursuant to a federal arrest warrant, they found a fraudulent FBI badge and identification as well as numerous computer discs with handwritten labels suggesting that they contained child pornography. A federal judge issued a search warrant for RHOADES' home and vehicle, and agents found discs containing approximately 800 images of prepubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, the FBI located a video of a "wedding" between RHOADES and a girl under the age of twelve along with written "wedding vows" between RHOADES and the child. At the time of his arrest, RHOADES was working as a security guard.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Clayton County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul Jones prosecuted the case.

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Adairsville Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

JERALD WAYNE ANDERSON, 64, of Adairsville, Georgia, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr., to serve more than 8 years in prison on a charge of receiving child pornography.

“Child pornography is a polite term for images of children being sexually abused,” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. “Instead of recoiling in horror at these images, as a normal person would, this defendant downloaded and collected thousands of images depicting the sexual exploitation of vulnerable children. Today’s harsh but just sentence is the appropriate punishment for a man who supported the abuse of these children by collecting and viewing child pornography.”

ANDERSON was sentenced to 8 years, 1 month in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. ANDERSON was convicted of these charges on August 14, 2008, when he pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography through the use of a computer.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In October 2007, ANDERSON was posing as a 13-year-old girl on the Internet and was chatting with an undercover police officer from Broward County, Florida, who also claimed to be a 13-year-old girl. Within minutes of beginning the chat, ANDERSON sent the police officer images of a young girl in various stages of nudity, including images that displayed her genitals. ANDERSON claimed that he was the child in the photographs and asked the undercover officer for nude pictures of herself. ANDERSON engaged in a similar online chat with an undercover police officer from Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, in November 2007. Again, within minutes of beginning the chat, ANDERSON sent the same photos of a nude girl to the undercover officer. Later in November and again in December 2007, ANDERSON engaged in chats with the Florida undercover officer, again claiming to be a young girl, although he used different names from the earlier chats. He again sent nude photographs of a young female. The undercover officers issued subpoenas to various businesses to determine the location of the person who was distributing images of child pornography. The results pointed to a residential address in Adairsville, Georgia. In January 2008, the undercover officers passed the information on to Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and within days of receiving this information the agents obtained and executed a search warrant for the Adairsville address. The agents found that ANDERSON had approximately 140 CD’s and DVD’s containing thousands of images of child pornography. ANDERSON organized and labeled his collection of child pornography for easy access. The images on the discs showed children as young as 5 years old being sexually abused and engaged in sexually explicit conduct. ANDERSON admitted that he had collected the child pornography and that he had sent images of child pornography to at least 100 other persons.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistance in this case was provided from the Broward County (FL) and Bensalem Township (PA) Police Departments.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul Jones prosecuted the case.

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Adairsville Man Pleads Guilty in Child Pornography Case

ERALD WAYNE ANDERSON, 63, of Adairsville, Georgia, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr. to one count of receipt of child pornography.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, “This defendant posed as a young girl on the internet, one of many deceptions used by sexual predators who try to reach and exploit our children through the computers in our homes. Thanks to coordinated law enforcement work across state lines, this defendant is pleading guilty and faces a long sentence in federal prison.”

According to United States Attorney Nahmias, and other information presented in court: In October 2007, the defendant engaged in an internet chat with an undercover police officer from the Broward County (Florida) Sheriff's Office. The defendant was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Approximately within 3 minutes of beginning the chat, the defendant began discussing modeling pictures with the undercover officer. The defendant sent the undercover officer a number of photographs over the internet of a young girl (which the defendant was claiming to be) engaged in various poses. Many of the photographs showed the girl in nude poses.

In November 2007, an undercover police officer from the Bensalem (Pennsylvania) Police Department was chatting online, and the defendant contacted her, again posing as a 13-year-old girl, but this time with a different name. Again, the defendant sent over the internet a number of "modeling photographs," which included many of the same pictures sent the previous month.

The local police officers issued subpoenas for the defendant's e-mail addresses and learned that he resided in Adairsville, Georgia. The case was then referred to the FBI, and on February 19, 2008, law enforcement officers executing search warrants found thousands of images of child pornography kept in briefcases and meticulously organized and labeled. These images showed girls under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. After waiving his Miranda rights, the defendant admitted to receiving and collecting child pornography.

Sentencing for ANDERSON is set for October 9, 2008, at 10 a.m. before Judge Vining. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with invaluable assistance provided by the Broward County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, and the Bensalem (Pennsylvania) Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul Jones is prosecuting the case.

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Georgia Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Sending Child Pornography over the Internet

MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GERALD ALAN HARRIS, 52, was sentenced today (August 11, 2008) by United States District Judge SIDNEY H. STEIN in Manhattan federal court to nine years in prison for transporting child pornography over the Internet. HARRIS pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2007. According to documents filed in the case and statements made during HARRIS’ guilty plea:

From June 22, 2007 to July 13, 2007, HARRIS, who lives in Georgia, engaged in several instant messaging “chats” on the Internet with individuals purporting to be a thirty-three-year-old mother in the Bronx and her twelve-year-old daughter. In fact, an undercover detective from the New York City Police Department was posing as both the mother and the daughter. During the course of these conversations, HARRIS sent the “mother” and “daughter” multiple images of child pornography, some of which depicted explicit sexual acts between minors and adults, via electronic mail. HARRIS also graphically described to the “mother” and “daughter” the sexual activities he planned to engage in with the “mother” and the “daughter” when they met in person.

HARRIS arranged to meet the “mother” and the “daughter” at a coffee shop in the Bronx on July 13, 2007. When HARRIS arrived at the prearranged location, he was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and members of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”).

Following HARRIS’s arrest, FBI agents executed a search warrant for HARRIS’s residence in Georgia. The agents seized computer equipment from which multiple images of child pornography were recovered.

In addition to the prison term, Judge STEIN sentenced HARRIS to five years of supervised release.

Mr. GARCIA praised the investigative work of FBI agents in New York and Georgia, and the NYPD. He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation of this case.

Assistant United States Attorney CHRISTIAN R. EVERDELL is in charge of the prosecution.

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