ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul announced today that Michael Covello, 43, of Chili, New York, who was convicted of the sexual exploitation of children, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge David G. Larimer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Miller, who handled the case, stated that the defendant distributed child pornography via a peer-to-peer file sharing network to an undercover FBI agent in May and June 2012. Thereafter, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Covello’s home in Chili, where they recovered items of digital media. The items seized contained images of children, many of whom were under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and many of which depicted acts of violence.
The defendant was previously convicted of sexual abuse, first-degree in Monroe County.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Former South Plainfield Police Captain Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Minor
TRENTON, NJ—A former South Plainfield, New Jersey police captain admitted today to exploiting a minor girl by enticing her to live-stream sexually explicit acts via the Internet in exchange for payment, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Michael Grennier, 51, of South Plainfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of production of child pornography. Grennier was charged by complaint on February 19, 2013, and has been in custody since that date.
According to documents and evidence in this case and statements made in court:
On February 14, 2013, Grennier enticed a girl to perform sexually explicit acts and stream images of herself over the Internet while he watched remotely from his home computer. During the webcam session, Grennier exchanged text messages with the minor in which he directed her actions. Grennier admitted during his guilty plea proceeding that he promised to buy his victim clothing in exchange for her performance.
At the time of his arrest, Grennier was working for a private computer forensics firm. Prior to his retirement, he was a computer forensics specialist for the South Plainfield Police Department.
The production count carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The mandatory minimum sentence for this offense is 15 years in prison. Sentencing is currently scheduled for March 27, 2014.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked the South Plainfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police James Parker, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Andrew Carey, for their assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey Bartle, Attorney in Charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton.
Michael Grennier, 51, of South Plainfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of production of child pornography. Grennier was charged by complaint on February 19, 2013, and has been in custody since that date.
According to documents and evidence in this case and statements made in court:
On February 14, 2013, Grennier enticed a girl to perform sexually explicit acts and stream images of herself over the Internet while he watched remotely from his home computer. During the webcam session, Grennier exchanged text messages with the minor in which he directed her actions. Grennier admitted during his guilty plea proceeding that he promised to buy his victim clothing in exchange for her performance.
At the time of his arrest, Grennier was working for a private computer forensics firm. Prior to his retirement, he was a computer forensics specialist for the South Plainfield Police Department.
The production count carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The mandatory minimum sentence for this offense is 15 years in prison. Sentencing is currently scheduled for March 27, 2014.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked the South Plainfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police James Parker, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Andrew Carey, for their assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey Bartle, Attorney in Charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tennessee Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography
FRESNO, CA—United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Christopher Joseph Kirk, 36, of Big Sandy, Tennessee, today for receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
Judge O’Neill sentenced Kirk to nine years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Kirk will be required to register as a sex offender and his access to minors, computers, and the Internet will be restricted.
Kirk pleaded guilty on September 23, 2013, and he was remanded into custody on that date. According to court documents, between March 9, 2006 and March 13, 2006, Kirk knowingly received more than 600 images of child pornography in Kern County. Many of the images depicted prepubescent minors, and some involved violence or sadistic or masochistic conduct or abuse.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Offices in Bakersfield; Detroit, Michigan; Albany, New York; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Assistant United States Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click on the “Resources” tab for information about Internet safety.
Judge O’Neill sentenced Kirk to nine years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Kirk will be required to register as a sex offender and his access to minors, computers, and the Internet will be restricted.
Kirk pleaded guilty on September 23, 2013, and he was remanded into custody on that date. According to court documents, between March 9, 2006 and March 13, 2006, Kirk knowingly received more than 600 images of child pornography in Kern County. Many of the images depicted prepubescent minors, and some involved violence or sadistic or masochistic conduct or abuse.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Offices in Bakersfield; Detroit, Michigan; Albany, New York; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Assistant United States Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click on the “Resources” tab for information about Internet safety.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography
FRESNO, CA—United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Christopher Joseph Kirk, 36, of Big Sandy, Tennessee, today for receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
Judge O’Neill sentenced Kirk to nine years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Kirk will be required to register as a sex offender and his access to minors, computers, and the Internet will be restricted.
Kirk pleaded guilty on September 23, 2013, and he was remanded into custody on that date. According to court documents, between March 9, 2006 and March 13, 2006, Kirk knowingly received more than 600 images of child pornography in Kern County. Many of the images depicted prepubescent minors, and some involved violence or sadistic or masochistic conduct or abuse.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Offices in Bakersfield; Detroit, Michigan; Albany, New York; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Assistant United States Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click on the “Resources” tab for information about Internet safety.
Judge O’Neill sentenced Kirk to nine years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Kirk will be required to register as a sex offender and his access to minors, computers, and the Internet will be restricted.
Kirk pleaded guilty on September 23, 2013, and he was remanded into custody on that date. According to court documents, between March 9, 2006 and March 13, 2006, Kirk knowingly received more than 600 images of child pornography in Kern County. Many of the images depicted prepubescent minors, and some involved violence or sadistic or masochistic conduct or abuse.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Offices in Bakersfield; Detroit, Michigan; Albany, New York; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Assistant United States Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click on the “Resources” tab for information about Internet safety.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Charges
ALBUQUERQUE—James Olsson, 60, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty this morning to a two-count indictment charging him with possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Olsson will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Olsson will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.
The indictment charged Olsson with possession of child pornography on April 11, 2013, in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. According to court filings, on that day, a state probation officer learned that Olsson possessed child pornography during a routine field visit with Olsson at his residence. Olsson was on probation for failure to register as a sex offender as required by his 2009 state court conviction for possession of child pornography. Olsson was arrested on state charges that day and was in state custody until he was transferred to federal custody on June 26, 2013.
In his plea agreement, Olsson admitted that while on probation for failure to register as a sex offender, he obtained child pornography images and videos from the Internet. Olsson further admitted that he had been collecting child pornography for approximately six months prior to his arrest in April 2013.
Olsson must serve an enhanced sentence of not less than 10 years in prison because of his prior child pornography conviction. Olsson has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Mexico Corrections Department Probation and Parole, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Lizarraga.
The case was filed as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 64 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies associated with the ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
The indictment charged Olsson with possession of child pornography on April 11, 2013, in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. According to court filings, on that day, a state probation officer learned that Olsson possessed child pornography during a routine field visit with Olsson at his residence. Olsson was on probation for failure to register as a sex offender as required by his 2009 state court conviction for possession of child pornography. Olsson was arrested on state charges that day and was in state custody until he was transferred to federal custody on June 26, 2013.
In his plea agreement, Olsson admitted that while on probation for failure to register as a sex offender, he obtained child pornography images and videos from the Internet. Olsson further admitted that he had been collecting child pornography for approximately six months prior to his arrest in April 2013.
Olsson must serve an enhanced sentence of not less than 10 years in prison because of his prior child pornography conviction. Olsson has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Mexico Corrections Department Probation and Parole, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Lizarraga.
The case was filed as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 64 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies associated with the ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Middleburg Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography
JACKSONVILLE, FL—U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan has sentenced Robert Hohman (age 66) to five years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. Hohman was indicted on October 18, 2012. He pleaded guilty to the offense on August 6, 2013.
In December 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated an investigation regarding a large volume of child pornography being distributed by a French-based message board. A message board is an online discussion website that allows users to hold conversations via posted messages. Over the course of this investigation, a customized message board or forum was created that appeared to be distributing large amounts of child pornography. Further investigation revealed that one of the individuals utilizing the forum was Robert Hohman.
On August 7, 2012, special agents with the FBI conducted a non-custodial interview of Hohman at his job. During the interview, Hohman confessed to registering a specific username and associated e-mail address on the forum. In addition, he admitted that he had been seeking, viewing, and downloading child pornography for many years. During the interview, Hohman gave the FBI consent to search his home computer. A forensic review of Hohman’s computer revealed that he downloaded more than a dozen videos and hundreds of images of children, as young as toddlers, involved in sexually explicit conduct with adults.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Malisa Chokshi.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "Resources."
In December 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated an investigation regarding a large volume of child pornography being distributed by a French-based message board. A message board is an online discussion website that allows users to hold conversations via posted messages. Over the course of this investigation, a customized message board or forum was created that appeared to be distributing large amounts of child pornography. Further investigation revealed that one of the individuals utilizing the forum was Robert Hohman.
On August 7, 2012, special agents with the FBI conducted a non-custodial interview of Hohman at his job. During the interview, Hohman confessed to registering a specific username and associated e-mail address on the forum. In addition, he admitted that he had been seeking, viewing, and downloading child pornography for many years. During the interview, Hohman gave the FBI consent to search his home computer. A forensic review of Hohman’s computer revealed that he downloaded more than a dozen videos and hundreds of images of children, as young as toddlers, involved in sexually explicit conduct with adults.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Malisa Chokshi.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "Resources."
Monday, December 2, 2013
Isabel Woman Sentenced for Simple Assault of a Minor
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Isabel, South Dakota woman convicted of simple assault of a minor was sentenced on November 25, 2013, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Crystal Lee Reeder, a/k/a Crystal Taylor, age 29, was sentenced to six months of probation and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Reeder was indicted for child abuse by a federal grand jury on June 12, 2013. She pled guilty on September 19, 2013, to simple assault of a minor.
In May 2012, the victim went to Reeder’s home to visit. During the visit, Reeder asked the victim, who was under the age of 16, inappropriate questions and offered alcohol to the victim, which she refused. While the victim was sitting on the couch, Reeder engaged in offensive touching of the victim and a simple assault of the victim’s person.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.
Crystal Lee Reeder, a/k/a Crystal Taylor, age 29, was sentenced to six months of probation and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Reeder was indicted for child abuse by a federal grand jury on June 12, 2013. She pled guilty on September 19, 2013, to simple assault of a minor.
In May 2012, the victim went to Reeder’s home to visit. During the visit, Reeder asked the victim, who was under the age of 16, inappropriate questions and offered alcohol to the victim, which she refused. While the victim was sitting on the couch, Reeder engaged in offensive touching of the victim and a simple assault of the victim’s person.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.
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