Calvert County Man Indicted for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

GREENBELT, MD—A federal grand jury has indicted Lawrence Francis Robinson, age 30, of North Beach, Maryland, today for distribution and possession of child pornography.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Colonel Terrence Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

“Children are sexually abused to produce these images. Anyone who has information about sexual abuse of a child should contact the FBI at (410) 265-8080,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are united in our commitment to combat sexual exploitation of children.”

According to the seven count indictment, on December 31, 2007, Robinson allegedly distributed child pornography, specifically, images documenting the sexual abuse of young males, including prepubescent males. The indictment alleges that two of the distributed images depict unidentified adult males using force to sexually abuse boys. The indictment also alleges that in November and December, 2009, Robinson had child pornography on his computer. The indictment seeks forfeiture of computers and any other property used or intended to be used to distribute and possess child pornography.

Law enforcement discovered the files allegedly sent by Robinson during the forensic analysis of a computer in another case, according to affidavits filed in support of searches of Robinson’s home and computer.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, 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 United States 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Details about Maryland’s program are available at www.justice.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacy Dawson Belf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney LisaMarie Freitas, assigned from the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the case.