Ellenwood Man Indicted For Possession Of Child Pornography

Used His Home Computer to Receive and Store Images

ATLANTA – David Rice was arraigned Thursday, March 28, 2013, for possession and receipt of child pornography, and has been released on bond with conditions including electronic monitoring, and a requirement that he not have unsupervised contact with children.

“The possession and receipt of child pornography attempts to normalize the exploitation of children,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “It not only harms the minor victims portrayed in those images, it fuels a heinous market.  We will protect children, so individuals in our District interested in acquiring and using these images need to understand that we will prosecute them.”

“The child pornography cases we investigate reveal the disturbing and sobering truth that some adults will go to great lengths to sexually exploit children,” said Brock D. Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Atlanta. “While we cannot give back the innocence that's been stolen from these children, we can make sure that those who commit these horrible crimes are brought to justice.”

According to United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court:  In April and May 2012, a federal agent with Homeland Security Investigations determined that Rice possessed approximately 950 files containing known or suspected child pornography at his home.  Those files included images of minor girls being molested by adult males.  In June 2012, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rice’s home.  Agents seized his home computer during that search, which contained numerous images of child pornography.

The indictment charges Rice, 51, of Ellenwood, Ga., with receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $250,000.  He is also charged with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a fine of $250,000.  Both charges carry no less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release.  His arraignment was held before United States Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn G. Brill.

If convicted, Rice will be required to register as a sex offender.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

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

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorney Jill E. Steinberg is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.