NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

JULY 18, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

FORMER NORTHLAND CEO INDICTED FOR CHILD PORN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the former CEO of a North Kansas City, Mo., company was indicted by a federal grand jury today for possessing and receiving child pornography from the Internet.

Ronald Earl Elmquist, 61, of Dallas, Texas, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Elmquist was the CEO of QualServ Corp., a North Kansas City company, until November 2006.

Today’s indictment alleges that Elmquist received child pornography over the Internet between Jan. 1 and July 11, 2006. During that time, the indictment also alleges, Elmquist was in possession of child pornography.

Wood cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roseann A. Ketchmark. It was investigated by the North Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales launched 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/.

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