Two Men Sentenced To Prison On Child Pornography Charges

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Tuesday, September 23, 2014, Chief U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced George Beall to 78 months in prison on federal child pornography charges, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Beall was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve the rest of his life under court supervision after he is released from prison. Judge Whitney also ordered Beall to pay $66,000 as restitution to eleven separate victims of child pornography.

Also on Tuesday, Judge Whitney sentenced Richard Lee Miller to 78 months in prison on federal child pornography charges. Miller was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Division.

In June 2013, Beall, 68, of Matthews, N.C. pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. According to filed documents and statements made in court, in May 2011, law enforcement became aware of Beall’s collection of child pornography after it was discovered by computer repair technicians. Court documents indicate that law enforcement later seized additional computer equipment pursuant to a search warrant. Court records indicate that a forensic examination revealed that Beall possessed thousands of images and videos which included 96 different children already identified by law enforcement as victims of child pornography.

Beall has been in federal custody since his bond was revoked in June 2013. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

In August 2013, Miller, 63 of Charlotte, N.C. pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. According to filed documents and statements made in court, in March 2012, law enforcement were alerted to Miller’s collection of child pornography after it was discovered by computer repair technicians. According to court records, law enforcement later seized additional computer equipment from Miller’s residence. Court records indicate that a forensic examination revealed that Miller possessed thousands of images and videos which included eight different children already identified by law enforcement as victims of child pornography.

Miller has been in federal custody since his bond was revoked in August 2013. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

Both investigations were handled by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cortney S. Randall and David A. Thorneloe 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.