United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

WETUMPKA MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION, DISTRIBUTION
AND RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— A grand jury sitting in the Middle District of Alabama has returned a federal indictment charging Norman Evans McElroy, Jr., age 41, of Wetumpka, Alabama, with possession, distribution, and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Leura G. Canary announced today.

The indictment, returned on May 9, 2007, and unsealed by the Court Friday, May 11, 2007, charges McElroy with two counts of knowingly receiving or distributing child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A), and two counts of knowingly possessing child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B).

McElroy was arrested on April 11, 2007, pursuant to a complaint issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Terry F. Moorer. Following a detention hearing, McElroy was ordered detained on April 17, 2007. McElroy’s trial will be scheduled at a later date.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney Canary stated, “This is the twenty-fourth child pornography case pursued by our office since we formed our Project Safe Childhood task force. In addition, we have also prosecuted other child exploitation cases, including enticement and molestation cases. Our office and federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors are partnering to bring to justice child pornographers and other offenders who pose a threat to our children. We will not cease our efforts until the threat to our children is eradicated.”

McElroy faces a sentence of imprisonment of not less than five years, but up to twenty years if convicted of either count of receiving or distributing child pornography. McElroy faces a sentence of imprisonment of up to ten years if convicted of either count of possessing child pornography.

McElroy’s case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher A. Snyder.

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.