Convicted Sex Offender Sent back To Prison After Possessing Child Pornography

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Byerly Birge announced today that Benjamin Franklin Miklusicak, 41, of Dorr, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff to 124 months in prison for possessing child pornography. Miklusicak pled guilty to the charge in December. Because of a 2004 conviction for criminal sexual conduct, second degree (person under thirteen), he faced a ten-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment.

          During the investigation, Miklusicak admitted to a sexual interest in girls who are nine to thirteen years old and to viewing child pornography on a weekly basis. The images found on his laptop included some depicting prepubescent children engaging in sexual acts.

          “There is perhaps no better indicator of the impending danger posed by a known pedophile than his decision to seek out images of children being abused,” Acting U.S. Attorney Birge said. “Incapacitation of recidivist sex offenders is critical to the protection of the kids in our community.”

          “Miklusicak’s repeat sexual offenses make him an extreme danger to our youth. This sentencing will ensure that he no longer has access to children in any way,” said Steve Francis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Detroit. “The combined efforts of HSI and our partners continue to form a formidable barrier between predators and our children.”

          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 prosecutors’ offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and 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.

          HSI developed the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant prosecuted the matter.

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