FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
APRIL 20, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT ADDS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
AGAINST A SEVERN MAN
BALTIMORE, Maryland - A federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment today charging Danny Fleck, age 59, of Severn, Maryland, with four counts of sexually exploiting minors for the purpose of producing video depictions of their sexually explicit conduct; one count of attempting to transport child pornography; three counts of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.
The nine-count indictment alleges that Fleck enticed and coerced three different minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce visual depictions of that conduct. The second superseding indictment adds six new charges, most significantly, three new counts of producing child pornography. These new charges pertain to two additional minor victims uncovered pursuant to the government’s investigation. The government previously returned a superseding indictment on March 30, 2006, which added two counts alleging that in October 2003, Fleck attempted to transport child pornography and possessed child pornography.
A federal grand jury returned the original one count indictment against Fleck on October 26, 2004.
According to a criminal complaint filed against Fleck in 2004, he used the internet to meet girls across the country. After establishing contact with the girls through Internet chat rooms, email, and phone calls, Fleck requested that the girls produce and send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
If convicted on all counts, Fleck faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a minimum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine. Fleck is scheduled for an arraignment on May 12, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Fleck has consented to being detained pending trial.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Andrew G. W. Norman, who are prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—April 21, 2006