FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
February 9, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that a grand jury sitting in Fresno returned a four-count indictment charging Neng Yang, 43, of Fresno, with separate counts of producing child pornography.

According to the indictment, Yang allegedly used his cell phone and an external hard drive to record and store videos depicting his sexual abuse of a minor, on multiple occasions, between December 8, 2011 and January 26, 2012. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 13, 2012 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe at 1:30 p.m.

This case is the result of an investigation by the San Joaquin Valley’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Clovis Police Department and the Fresno office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Enos is prosecuting the case.

“This case is particularly alarming in light of the defendant’s respected position as a teacher and counselor of youngsters,” said Paul Leonardi, resident agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Fresno. “HSI will continue its work with our law enforcement partners — using every tool at our disposal — to keep out children safe.”

If convicted, Yang faces a mandatory prison term of between 15 and 30 years and a $250,000 fine for each count, 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 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 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, 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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