Montgomery, Alabama - “Combating child pornography is a major priority of this office. In our efforts to combat this attack on our children, a federal grand jury charged Edward Lee Bodkin, 68, of Wetumpka, Alabama, with knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography,” U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., announced today.

Count one of the indictment alleges that Bodkin used the Yahoo Messenger internet photosharing application to receive child pornography on a generic desktop computer in August 2010. The remaining three counts of the indictment charge Bodkin with possessing child pornography in August 2011. The child pornography Bodkin is accused of possessing was allegedly stored on an external hard drive and two USB flash drives.

Bodkin first came to the attention of law enforcement in August 2011, when a letter he allegedly sent to a prison inmate was intercepted by officials with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. The letter, which referenced child pornography, was turned over to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, and a state search warrant was subsequently obtained for Bodkin’s residence. During the investigation, officers discovered evidence that Bodkin had been performing human castrations on willing men. Records show that Bodkin was previously convicted in Indiana state court for practicing medicine without a license.

Bodkin has been held in state custody since his August 12 arrest by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. His initial appearance and arraignment on the indictment have not been set. If convicted of all charges contained in the indictment, Bodkin faces no less than five years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a possible life term of supervised release.

The investigation of this case is being led by the United States Secret Service, working in tandem with Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin and his Sheriff’s Deputies, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections Prosecution Unit, and the Alabama District Attorneys’ Association – Office of Prosecution Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

 

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617

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