Burke Co. Man Handed Down 21-Year Sentence For Producing Child Pornography

ASHEVILLE, N.C. B Jesse Brison Ollis, aka “Jesse Lequire,” 27, of Valdese, N.C., has been handed down a 21-year prison sentence by a federal judge for producing child pornography, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger presided over today’s hearing, ordering the defendant to serve a lifetime of supervised release and to register as a sex offender upon completion of his prison term.

Nick Annan, Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas and Janie Sutton, Special Agent in Charge Alan K. Flora of SBI Computer Crimes Unit and Commander of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force join U.S. Attorney Rose in making today’s announcement.

According to today’s sentencing hearing and filed court documents, on November 26, 2014, law enforcement received information from Australian authorities that an Australian 14 year old female (victim one) had been engaging in sexually explicit communications over the Internet with an individual later identified as Ollis.  According to court documents, victim one informed law enforcement that she had met Ollis in 2011 online when she was 12 years old and she believed him to be 17 years old.  A forensic examination of electronic devices seized from Ollis’ residence revealed that Ollis had been communicating with victim one online and had “blogged,” or posted, child pornography images on the Internet.  Further forensic investigation revealed that Ollis had additional sexually explicit images and videos of a second minor female (victim two).  Court records indicate that law enforcement identified victim two as a minor living in Western North Carolina who Ollis had befriended. 

“Ollis is every parent’s worst nightmare coming to life,” said U.S. Attorney Rose.  “He targeted impressionable young children and used the Internet in the worst possible way: to share sexually explicit images of victimized underage girls.  While no two child pornography cases involving online communications are the same, each one is a stark reminder that the Internet can be used for good and evil.  The safety of our children rests upon our vigilant efforts to ensure they are protected from online predators lurking and waiting for an opportunity to strike,” Rose added.

“This case serves as an example to anyone who is involved in the production of child pornography…regardless of where in the world the investigation may lead or how much time may have passed, HSI is committed to holding them accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Annan.  “The child victims of these illegal images often suffer physical and psychological scars for many years, and HSI is committed to aggressively targeting those who engage in child sexual exploitation.”

“Men like Ollis are the reason that the ICAC Task Force exists.  The SBI values all of our law enforcement partners and this case signifies the great work that can be accomplished when agencies work together,” said Special Agent in Charge Flora.

In handing down today’s sentence, Judge Reidinger said that harm to victims in cases like these is one of the reasons we have such long sentences.

Ollis is currently in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.  All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

The investigation was handled by HSI and SBI, which are members of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice, aimed at combating the growing online sexual exploitation of children.By combining resources, federal, state and local agencies are better able to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue those victims.For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov