March 25, 2010

FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT CHARGING OLATHE MAN WITH PRODUCING CHILD PORN

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Larry L. Howard, 41, Olathe, Kan., is charged with one count of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in October and November 2009 and March 2010 in Johnson County, Kan.

Howard initially was charged in a criminal complaint filed March 18, 2010, in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. The complaint alleged Howard took pornographic photos of a 2-year-old girl, which he traded over the Internet for more child pornography. The complaint said the investigation began Sept. 1, 2009, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com ) received a tip that a man in Australia had uploaded child pornography to the Flickr.com website. The Australian Capital Territory Police identified an Australian man as the user who posted the photos and filed child pornography charges against him. Investigators learned the Australian man had been producing child pornography and swapping files over the Internet with other producers of child pornography around the globe. Among his contacts was an American who went by the Internet alias Blyndman68. Australian Federal Police shared the information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Cyber Crimes investigators, who followed Blyndman68's electronic trail to Olathe, Kan.

On March 18, 2010, agents of ICE, the Olathe Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service served a search warrant at Howard’s home, resulting in his arrest.

If convicted, Howard 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 five years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the count of distributing child pornography, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Olathe Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and Australian Federal Police investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting. This case is being prosecuted as part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood. For more information see www.projectsafechildhood.gov

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A federal grand jury meeting in Kansas City, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Joshua R. Roberson, 22, Lenexa, Kan., is charged with one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 20, 2009, in Lenexa, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than life on the charge of discharging a firearm, a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. The Lenexa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Crystal A. Reddin, 24, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 6, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Michael D. Welch, 33, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 10, 2010 in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Damien D. Garrett, 29, who is being held in the Douglas County Jail, and Shawn L. Patton, 31, Lawrence, Kan., each are charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm a after felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 18, 2010, in Lawrence, Kan.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Jose Juardo-Chafino, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported and removed from the United States in 2002, 2009 and 2010. He was found March 11, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.