Battle Creek Man Pleads Guilty To Producing Child Pornography

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Matthew John Andaluz, 44, of Battle Creek, Michigan pleaded guilty before the Hon. Robert J. Jonker, Chief U.S. District Judge, to producing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today. Andaluz faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years of imprisonment, and he will be required to serve a term of supervised release after his prison term has been completed. Andaluz will also be required to register as a sexual offender.

          Andaluz admitted at the plea hearing that he had taken pornographic photographs of a ten-year-old child at his home in Calhoun County. The conduct occurred in late 2010 and early 2011. Andaluz came to the attention of law enforcement in November 2016, when agents and investigators traced images Andaluz had distributed over the Internet back to his home in Calhoun County. Agents executed a search warrant at Andaluz’s home on December 16, 2016, and arrested him. Andaluz remains in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for September 25, 2017.

          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: http://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) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Lewis prosecuted the case.

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