Eaton Rapids Man, Benjamin Jordan Knight, Sentenced To More Than Seventeen Years In Prison For Distribution Child Pornography

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Benjamin Jordan Knight, 29, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan was sentenced today to 210 months (17.5 years) in federal prison for distributing and attempting to distribute child pornography via the Internet, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced. In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker imposed a 10-year term of supervised release that will commence once Knight is released from imprisonment. Knight will also be required to register as a sexual offender.

         Knight pled guilty on September 17, 2015, to distributing and attempting to distribute child pornography. Knight came to the attention of law enforcement on December 27, 2014, when a witness told police that Knight had used a cell phone to display child pornography in a public place. Ensuing police investigation revealed that Knight had distributed and attempted to distribute child pornography to another individual via the Internet. Investigation further revealed that Knight possessed a quantity of child pornography. Knight’s collection of child pornography included hard-core, graphic material, such as images and videos depicting brutal sexual assaults on infants and toddlers. In addition, investigation revealed that Knight had claimed in chat communications that he had himself sexually abused children in the past and wanted to do so again in the future. He offered to pay the parent of a young child if the parent would allow him to sexually abuse the child. In addition, investigation revealed that Knight had previously held employment taking care of a vulnerable child.

          This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney's Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

          The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Battle Creek Police Department, and Emmett Township Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Lewis prosecuted the case.

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