Former Sycamore Resident Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

ROCKFORD — A former Sycamore, Ill. resident was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Rockford for allegedly transporting and possessing child pornography. MICHAEL PODOLSKY, 26, now of Elkader, Iowa, was charged with two counts of transporting child pornography via the internet, and one count of possessing child pornography that had crossed state lines.

Transporting child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, while possessing child pornography carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. If convicted, the actual sentence will be determined by a United States District Court Judge, guided by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The indictment was announced today by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Donald M. Thomas, Chief of the Sycamore Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Love.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Indictment