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Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a three-count indictment against Tyler Michael Berlick, 35, of Muskego, Wisconsin, for traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, and production of child sexual abuse materials.*
The indictment alleges that in February of this year, Berlick traveled from Wisconsin to South Carolina with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor and then traveled with the minor to Florida with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Berlick met the child in an online game and believed she was 13 years old. Berlick is also charged with one count of production of child sexual abuse materials.
Berlick faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23 at 10 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Lantana Police Department (Florida), the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department (Wisconsin). Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Marosek is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
MEDIA CONTACT: Veronica Hill, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office, veronica.hill@usdoj.gov, (803) 929-3000