Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Charleston, South Carolina, returned Indictment(s) against the following:

Charleston-based NOAA Employee Charged with Possession of Child Pornography involving Prepubescent Minors
Clayton A. Norfleet, age 53, of West Columbia, was charged in a one-count Indictment with Possession of Child Pornography involving Prepubescent Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252A(b)(2). Norfleet could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Commerce-Office of Inspector General (DOC-OIG) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston office for prosecution.

North Charleston Felon Indicted for Illegally Reentering the United States
Fidel Ramos Sanchez, age 39, of North Charleston, was charged in a one-count Indictment with Illegal Reentry of an Alien after being removed subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2). The maximum penalty Sanchez could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston office for prosecution.

North Charleston Man Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography involving Prepubescent Minors
Derek Wayne Sanson, age 26, of North Charleston, was charged in a two-count Indictment with Distribution of Child Pornography, in violation of  Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(2) and 2252A(b)(1), and Possession of Child Pornography involving Prepubescent Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252A(b)(2). Sanson could receive a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for the Distribution of Child Pornography count, and a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for the Possession of Child Pornography involving Prepubescent Minors count. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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