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Press Release

Two Men Indicted For Child Exploitation Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia

Child Pornography Video Investigation Snares Two Cobb County Men

ATLANTA – A Cobb County school bus driver and a college music instructor were arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Janet F. King on two separate indictments for child pornography charges stemming from their ordering and receiving videos containing child pornography from a foreign company.  Stanley Keith Johnson, 57, of Mableton, Georgia, is charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.  In a separate case, Jerry Michael Lanier, 51, of Smyrna, Georgia, is charged with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.  The indictments were returned by a federal grand jury on January 8, 2013.

“Child pornography preys on the most innocent and vulnerable members of society,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “These men are charged with participating in the victimization of children when they received child pornography through the mail.  These cases reflect our commitment to end this horrendous cycle of victimization.”

“Postal Inspectors have been on the forefront aggressively investigating cases involving the sexual exploitation of children through the U.S. mail.  We will continue our fight against sexual predators who insist on dissolving the innocence of children.” said Keith Morris, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division.

“The victimization of children by purveyors of child pornography is a growing problem in Georgia and assisting state, local, and federal agencies in identifying and prosecuting those involved in the child porn trade is a priority for the GBI and its Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. The GBI is proud to have assisted the United States Postal Inspection Service in this investigation,” said Vernon Keenan, GBI Director.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court:

  • From November 2010 to April 2011, Stanley Keith Johnson placed orders with a foreign company for approximately 180 DVDs containing videos of nude boys between the ages of 8 and 14.  Johnson received those videos through the United States Postal Service.  A search warrant executed in December 2012 revealed that he not only possessed child pornography on his computer, but that he had also produced images of child pornography as far back as May 2004.  Johnson was working as a bus driver for Cobb County Public Schools during all the times listed in the indictment.
  • Between January 2010 and January 2011, Jerry Michael Lanier also placed orders with the same foreign company.  He ordered and received through the mail approximately 19 DVDs containing child pornography.  A search warrant executed at his residence December 2011 revealed that he had numerous videos of child pornography on his computer.  Lanier was working as a music instructor at the University of West Georgia when the search warrant was executed.

The charge of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum period of confinement of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  The charge of receiving child pornography carries a mandatory minimum confinement period of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison.  The charge of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.  Each charge carries a fine of up to $250,000 and a period of supervised release from 5 years to life.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges.  The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove each defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

These cases are being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.  In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

These cases are being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Cobb County Police Department, and Smyrna Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul R. Jones is prosecuting the cases.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

Updated April 8, 2015