Jury Convicts Illinois Man for Production and Possession
of Child Pornography

WASHINGTON – A Riverton, Ill., man has been convicted for production and possession of child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney James A. Lewis for the Central District of Illinois. 

Jeffrey Price, 47, was convicted late Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, by a federal jury after two hours of deliberation on one count of production and one count of possession of child pornography.

Price was indicted in November 2009, following his arrest on Oct. 22, 2009, on a federal criminal complaint.  Price has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.

During Price’s trial, which began on Nov. 1, 2011, the government presented evidence that showed between November 2003 and March 2004, Price coerced and photographed a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Evidence also was presented that showed Price possessed more than 900 images and 20 movies that depict children engaged in sexually explicit activity.

Price’s sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2012.  Production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison.  Possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  Both charges carry maximum terms of lifetime supervised release following any prison terms.

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 U.S. 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 case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greggory R. Walters and Elly Peirson of the Central District of Illinois and CEOS Assistant Deputy Chief Alexandra Gelber.  The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Springfield, Ill., Police Department with assistance provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Sangamon County, Ill., Child Advocacy Center.