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Press Release

Recent Child Exploitation Cases: 3 Indictments, One Guilty Plea And One 14-Year Sentence

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announces the following three indictments, a guilty plea, and a sentencing in cases involving the exploitation of children.

Sacramento Man Indicted for Production of Child Pornography and Enticement of a Minor

George Hristovski, 55, of Sacramento, was indicted today for attempted production of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor. According to court documents, Hristovski posted an online advertisement seeking a mother who was willing to introduce him to their daughter for the purpose of having sex with the girl. He was arrested on August 4, 2014, after making explicit demands for pornographic images of a 13-year-old girl that he believed he was communicating with, and for attempting to arrange a meeting with the girl for the purpose of having sex with her.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Reardon and Michele M. Beckwith are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Hristovski faces 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Paradise Man Indicted for Production of Child Pornography and Enticement of a Minor

A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against Jordan James Kirby, 22, of Paradise, charging him with production of child pornography and enticement of a minor. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Paradise Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Reardon and Sherry Haus are prosecuting the case.

Sacramento Man Indicted for Possessing Child Pornography

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Christopher Raymond Smithson, 34, of Sacramento, charging him with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, in June 2014, Smithson possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Titles of the visual depictions referred to children as young as four years old. If convicted, Smithson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is the product of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh F. Sigal is prosecuting the case.

The charges in the above indictments are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sacramento Pimp Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor (No. 2:13-cr-030 JAM)

On Tuesday, August 12, 2014, Keon Jamar Nunnelly, 30, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. According to court documents, Nunnelly posted online prostitution ads for a 16-year-old girl in Sacramento and Anaheim. He managed the victim by providing directions on when and where she should work, transporting her to hotels, and providing protection and security. The defendant knew that she was a minor and would be caused to engage in commercial sex acts. Nunnelly is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on November 18, 2014. Nunnelly faces a maximum statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Innocence Lost Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon is prosecuting the case.

Any sentence in these cases would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Antelope Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography (No. 2:12-CR-0417 TLN)

On Thursday, August 7, 2014, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley sentenced Gerald Ratulowski, 69, of Antelope, to 14 years in prison for receiving child pornography. According to court documents, between June 2012, and September 2012, Ratulowski shared files of child pornography through an Internet file-sharing service. Several thousand images and videos of child pornography were found in his computer, including images of sadistic and masochistic conduct.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon prosecuted the case.

These cases were 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 U.S. 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.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.

Updated April 8, 2015

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