United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

TARRANT COUNTY MAN ARRESTED ON
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND CHILD OBSCENITY CHARGES

FORT WORTH, Texas — James L. Rudzavice of Mansfield, Texas, was arrested today on child pornography and child obscenity charges outlined in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth last week, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. A detention hearing is scheduled for Rudzavice in federal court in Fort Worth on Friday, September 28, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil.

The indictment alleges that Rudzavice used the Internet to download still images of a minor female engaged in sexually explicit conduct. It further alleges that he used Yahoo! Instant Messenger Service to send a live webcam broadcast of himself masturbating to a person he believed to be a minor female, who, in fact, was an undercover law enforcement agent.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on all counts, James L. Rudzavice, 44, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. 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

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.

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