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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
May 21 , 2009
INDICTMENT: PHONY FACEBOOK PAGE WAS TRICK TO SOLICIT MINORS FOR PHOTOS OF SEXUAL ACTS
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Michael T. Cowley, 38, Shawnee, Kan., is charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography and one count of using a computer and the Internet to persuade a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
According to the indictment, Cowley posed on Facebook as a 19-year-old female in order to persuade minor victims, including a 13-year-old boy, to send him photos of themselves engaged in sexual activities. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from October 2008 through Feb. 23, 2009, in Johnson County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of producing child pornography, not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of receiving child pornography, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge, and not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of persuading a minor to commit an unlawful sexual act.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
A federal grand jury meeting in Kansas City, Kan., also returned the following indictments:
Casey Frakes, 31, Atchison, Kan., is charged with one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in March and June 2008 in Atchison County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the distribution charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.
Eleazar Medel-Navarette, 44; Frankie Hall, 48; and Eugene Kenney, 51, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin resulting in a user’s death or serious bodily harm. The conspiracy is alleged to have occurred from May 1, 2007, through Feb. 24, 2009, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
In addition, Medel-Navarette is charged with one count of distributing heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Kenney is charged with three counts of distributing heroin, one count of distributing heroin that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of a user, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Hall is charged with two counts of distribution of heroin.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in death or serious bodily injury: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million.
Distribution of heroin: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $2 million.
Distribution of heroin resulting in death or bodily injury: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Possession with intent to distribute heroin: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin: Not less than 5 years and not ore than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million.
The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, Lenexa Police Department, Olathe Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.
Chester Bragg, 31, Tulsa, Okla., is charged with failing to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The crime is alleged to have occurred from Sept. 12, 2007, through March 19, 2009, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.
Justin Brown, 21, Leavenworth, Kan., is charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle on the Ft. Leavenworth military installation. The crime is alleged to have occurred Nov. 14, 2008.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 34 months and a fine up to $100,000. The Military Police investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.
Christopher Jackson, 30, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
Antonio A. Matthews, 30, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 10, 2009, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
Edward M. Sanders, 31, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction , one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 3, 2009, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the drug possession charge, and not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
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