FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
June 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SILVER SPRING MAN INDICTED FOR PRODUCTION, RECEIPT AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted Virgil Odis Huskey, age 33, of Silver Spring, Maryland, today on charges of production, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, "The allegation in this indictment is an example of the evil that Project Safe Childhood was developed to fight. The indictment alleges that Virgil Huskey took photographs of a 2 year old child engaged in sexual activity on his cell phone camera. Fortunately, a citizen found the phone and contacted the police."
According to the three-count indictment and court documents, on November 24, 2006, a citizen found a “flip-style” camera cell phone, that had been left in the men’s restroom at a store in Silver Spring, Maryland. Upon opening the “flip” portion of the phone in an attempt to determine its owner, the citizen observed an image on the display screen that appeared to depict a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct with an adult. The citizen contacted the Montgomery County Police Department (MCOPD), which took possession of the phone. The phone was identified as belonging to Virgil Odis Huskey.
The indictment alleges that between September and November 2006 Huskey coerced a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. The indictment further alleges that Huskey received and possessed child pornography that had been transported interstate by any means, including by computer.
Huskey faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, and a maximum of 30 years in prison for production of child pornography; a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography; and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography. No court appearance has been scheduled. Huskey is in federal custody.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Details about Maryland’s program are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.
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 praised the Montgomery County Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy and his office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Sartori, who is prosecuting the case.