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Press Release

West Springfield Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A West Springfield man was charged today in federal court in Springfield in connection with sexually exploiting a five-year-old girl.

 

Justin Germaine was indicted on five counts of sexual exploitation of children, eight counts of distribution of child pornography, five counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Germaine has been in custody since he was arrested and charged in July 2016.

 

According to court documents, on five occasions between November 2015 and June 2016, Germaine used a five-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of creating child pornography. In at least one of the videos found on his cellphone, Germaine appears to be the individual sexually abusing the girl. Between March 2016 and July 2016, Germaine allegedly distributed and received electronic child pornography files. Furthermore, Germaine exchanged emails with another individual in which the two allegedly discussed having sex with children and trading child pornography. Attached to these emails were sexually provocative pictures of minor girls.

 

The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography each provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Weinreb’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

 

This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Updated March 30, 2017

Topic
Project Safe Childhood