May 27, 2010

RICE COUNTY MAN INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGE OF TRYING TO SEND OBSCENE MATERIAL TO A MINOR

WICHITA, KAN. – Frank Jeffrey Filipi, 51, Lyons, Kan., is charged with two counts of attempting to send obscene material to a minor, two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during October, November and December 2009 and January 2010 in Rice County, Kan.

The indictment alleges Filipi used a webcam to send images of his genitals to a Wichita police detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. He also is alleged to have used a computer to distribute images of minors engaged in sexual activities.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the distribution counts, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of sending obscene images to a minor, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge. The Wichita Police Department and the Creston, Ohio, Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

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

Nathan E. Boyce, 42, Salina, Kan., is charged with one count of distributing child pornography via computer and one count of possessing child pornography received via computer. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in November 2009 and March 2010, in Saline County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the distribution charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

Edvin Ramirez-Carreto, 26, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully transporting 11 illegal aliens in a Chevrolet Tahoe. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 13, 2010, in Russell County, Kan. He also is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000 on the transportation charge and a maximum penalty of two years and a fine up to $250,000 on the re-entry charge. The Kansas Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Francisco Cruz-Nunez, 30, a citizen of Honduras, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after twice being deported. He was found May 19, 2010, in Saline County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

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