FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
January 30, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:12-mj-018

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that a criminal complaint was filed today in United States District Court charging Neng Yang, 43, of Fresno, with producing child pornography.

According to the complaint, Yang, a teacher at Freedom Elementary within the Clovis Unified School District, allegedly used his cell phone to record his sexual abuse of a minor, on multiple occasions, between January 3, 2012 and January 26, 2012.

This case is the result of an extensive investigation by the San Joaquin Valley’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Clovis Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“This case is particularly disturbing because the suspect teaches young, vulnerable children and is in a position of trust,” said Paul Leonardi, resident agent in charge of ICE HSI in Fresno. Our concern is for other potential victims in our community.  “ICE HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who prey upon and sexually exploit innocent children.”

Yang is scheduled to make his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck at 1:30 p.m. today in Courtroom 9, on the 6th Floor of the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno.

If convicted of the charge, Yang faces a mandatory prison term of between 15 and 30 years, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release. If convicted, the actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

            This case is 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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and ask to speak with the PSC coordinator.

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