CASPER MAN ARRAIGNED FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that MICHAEL SHANE COURCEY CLEMENTS, 30, of Gillette, Wyoming was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Clements appeared for an arraignment hearing on March 21, 2022, before United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial has been set for May 23, 2022, before United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal. Clements was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.

If convicted on all counts, Clements faces 15 years to 40 years’ imprisonment and five years to life of supervised release. He could also be ordered to pay a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act of 2015 and a $100 special assessment on each count; a $35,000 special assessment and mandatory restitution of not less than $3,000 per requesting victim pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018; and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case is being investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation ICAC. It is also part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative. Assistant United States Attorney Christyne M. Martens is prosecuting the case.  

An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Case No. 22-cr-00045-NDF

About Project Safe Childhood

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.