Brazoria County Woman Indicted for Distributing Child Pornography

HOUSTON—In a first for the Southern District of Texas, a woman has been indicted for distribution and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

A three-count sealed indictment charging Carrie Louise Kelly, 29, of Richwood, Texas, with distribution and possession of child pornography was unsealed today following her appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Wm. Smith. Kelly will remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing set for Oct. 8, 2010. The investigation leading to the federal charges first resulted in the filing of state charges in Brazoria County where she has been in custody until her transfer to federal custody today.

The indictment, returned Sept. 15, 2010, accuses Kelly of distribution of child pornography on two dates in April 2010 and also possessing child pornography in the same month.

Distribution of child pornography carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment while possession of child pornography carries a penalty of up to 10 years' incarceration upon conviction. All charges have a maximum fine of $250,000 as possible punishment. Any prison term imposed upon conviction is to be followed by up to maximum life term of supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

The federal charges against Kelly are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Texas City office of the FBI, Richwood Police Department and Pearland Police Department.

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, 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.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Stabe.